^^.^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


J 


z 


1.0  ^1^  1^ 

^^  itt  Uii    |2.2 

=  ""^  iiiiim 

11.25 


1.4 


1.6 


6"     - 


y 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  S72-4503 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  IVIicroreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


O' 


•s* 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Notas  tachniquaa  at  bibliographiquaa 


Tha  Instituta  has  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturas  of  this 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua. 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
tha  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


□    Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I     I    Covers  damaged/ 


D 


D 


D 
D 


D 


0 


Couverture  endommag6a 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^  et/ou  pelliculie 


□    Cover  title  missing/ 
Le 


titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartas  giographiquas  an  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encra  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I     I   Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrationa/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
PaliA  avac  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  causa  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serrde  peut  causer  de  I'ornbre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  tha  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissant  dans  la  taxte. 
mais.  lorsque  cela  Mait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  ix6  filmAes. 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplimentairas: 


Various  pagings. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm*  ia  mailleur  exemplaira 
qu'il  lui  a  M  pocsibia  de  te  procurer.  Las  details 
de  cet  exemplaira  qui  sont  paut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographiqua.  qui  peuvent  modiflbr 
ure  image  reproduite.  ou  qui  peuvent  exigar  une 
modification  dans  la  mAthode  normala  da  filmaga 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dassous. 


I      I   Coloured  pagea/ 


n 


Pagea  de  couleur 

Pagea  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagias 


□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pagts  rastaurias  et/ou  pelliculies 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  fcxad/ 
Pages  dAcolor^es.  tachetdes  ou  piqudes 


□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtachies 

QShowthrough/ 
Transparence 


Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  inigala  de  I'^mpression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  material  supplimantaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seuie  Edition  disponible 


I      I   Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I    Includes  supplementary  material/ 

r~1    Only  edition  available/ 


Pagea  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  tha  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalamant  ou  partiellamant 
obscurcias  par  un  feuiilet  d'arrata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  M  film6es  i  nouveau  da  fapon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


Th 
to 


Th 
po 
of 
fill 


Or 
be 
th( 
sit 
ot 
fir 
sic 
or 


Th 
shi 
Til 
wl 

Ml 
dif 
en^ 
bei 
rigl 
req 
mc 


This  item  is  filmed  at  tha  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  da  reduction  indiqu*  ci-dassous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

1 
i 

y 

12X 

16X 

20X 

a«x 

28X 

32X 

.V:.. 


tails 
du 

idifibr 
una 
naga 


Th«  copy  fllm«d  h«r«  h««  b««n  r«produc«d  thanks 
to  the  g«n«ro*ity  of : 

Douglas  Library 
Quaan't  Univarsity 

Tha  imagaa  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possibia  consldaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  Icaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacif lections. 


Original  copies  in  printed  papar  covara  ara  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  iliustratad  impres- 
sion, or  the  becic  cover  when  eppropriata.  All 
other  originel  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  pege  with  e  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


L'exemplaire  f limA  f ut  reproduit  grAce  k  la 
gAnirosit*  de: 

■i-    :      Douglas  Library 

Queen's  University 

Les  imagee  suivantes  ont  4tA  reproduites  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  le  condition  et 
de  le  nettet*  de  I'exempleire  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avac  les  conditions  du  contrat  da 
filmage. 

Les  exempleires  originaux  dont  la  couvarture  en 
pepier  est  ImprimAe  sent  filmte  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  at  en  terminent  soit  par  la 
darnlAre  pege  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iiiustretlon.  soit  per  le  second 
plat,  salon  la  ces.  Tous  lee  autras  exemplairas 
originaux  sent  filmto  en  commenpant  par  la 
pramlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impreaaion  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminent  par 
la  darnlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  lest  recorded  '  jme  on  eech  microfiche 
shell  contain  tha  symbol  — »>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  epplies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
darnlAre  imege  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  la  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVHE",  le 
symbols  ▼  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  he  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  lerge  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  end  top  to  bottom,  es  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartas,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmte  A  des  taux  da  rMuction  diffArants. 
Lorsqua  le  document  est  trop  grend  pour  itre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  ciichA,  11  est  film6  A  psrtir 
de  I'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  geuche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  baa,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'imeges  nAcessaira.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrant  la  mAthoda. 


rata 

10 


lelure. 
I  d 


1 

2 

3 

32X 


1 

2 

3 

4 

6 

6 

[54] 

MESSAGE 


jj 


f 


VIOMTHS 

PRB6IDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES^ 

.*"(       'ft,' 

,       TSAirSMI'^fXlfO 

.   «  / 

^j^  ^  LETTER  FROM  THE  SECRETJIRr  OF  WAR, 

ACCOKrAXlXO  WITS 

SUNDRY  DOCUMENTS; 

m  OBIDISMCK  TO  A 


S 


■>, 


RESOLUTION  OF  THE  Slst  OF  OBCEMBER  IiAST, 

IXqVBSTING  SUCH  IwroRXATION  AS 

ftTAY  TEND  TO  EXP'^AIN  THE  CAUSES 

OW  TH« 

FAILURE  OF  THE  ARMS  OF  THE  U.  STATES 

UH  THB 

lyORTRERJ>r  FROJrrJOSM. 


>■•, 


FEBRUARY  2,  1814. 
Ready  and  ordered  to  lie  on  the  table. 


''1  , 

.J?                      

_.t: 

v'v 

ii^^:- 

.       WASHINGTON  t 

A.   &  O.   WAT^  PBINTfiBS. 

'  *  ■ 

.4^*.       "^j: 

I  '■ 


t-p. 


X&' 


4V' 


^.■-^ 


I.   "'^^ 


f    ,>^^.;--:'l^,', 


%  ^  7'.i.S-^  ,j;|f  :i:;*''_^^#\^^,s.  ""^ts.^  ^"%;;y 


*_**','»' 


"if  ♦  vV 

k  .  *  J  '  ■ 


t(!l  -S^' 


m^i't 


■>  i, 


>^^.-B-.'  *»r, . 


>    .> 


It  ,.;>.  *       '  -:;.  i}\''\ 


4-       / 


<»•,' 


".  ■-'  ;U^-'r  -f; 


■5.' ,  ■  :  r 


w^^    * 


^^4««;feiaiSite*fr';«iW*f  :-«*>* 


■•v.,  i^Jt*:5v^. 


in 


-    "H 


o 


^x 


-*- 


•v 

«iM^ 

"'^ 

?4} 

,ai 

»* 

fci 

UL 


V) 


n 


JTa 


^^ 


o 


■»&}&Mis»sd-^ 


o 


J 


U 

"O 


0 
4. 

■■» 


v*'' #' .  .vv>v  •■•-^^''  ''^'':-^. 


''"••  <*,. 


'  '#'    •■ 


M^SSAGfe. 


-  ^« 


,■■*•?■ 


•*■■'•.» 


-.*:        .'K 


To  the  BoUse  of  UepresentativeB  of  the 
United  States. 

I  TRANSMIT  to  the  house  of  representatives 
ji  report  of  the  secretary  of  war,  complying  with  their 
]rosolution  of  the  Slst  of  December  last.       ^^  '"       ; 


i&'-c' 


"^     January  Slst,  1814, 


JAMES  MADISON. 


'% 


VJ 


- '.  ■**  ■  ■«    **, 

> 

'■'   ^  .■■'^ 

<t 

""■  '\.    • 

"   ..  i'     *■ 

'     '''.     :#r.. 

i.'\ 

1  V 

^^»> 

>• 

o 


iiW 


o 
C 


.'fe 


J 

IT 


>$}.(i-; 


^•'-l;*^ 


V    ";<■. 


n 


i^ 


^- 


%"-'s 


>»i 


tH 


t-    .*• 


'►  fr  »H» 


"'%<- 


*4. 


4^ 


'-<"'^     'i.'     r- 


(»- 


4- 


A'' 


.««« 


3^, 


'^ 


''*/-M-'^"' 


^^^ 


*v:, 


«i  i-jj^ 


^» 


.^■>*^ 


V' 


a^. 


f^  "..  ♦ 


wtr-*:^H-;;^.,c<.,^,.;;*;t|:^,ltvi*>i'\t 


y, .':«'  •     *' 


^m 


♦    •  .     ' 


•V    "^       ,        I    '"     1  , 


,.^S:r 


.    ■»■   1      ■^'i  - 


Jf.*^-''*  IV  ".c^i^'  ^  ..':  \^  '% 


;>'%,-  A^^ 


"fe^l 


«*• 


»•/  *,i 


V*  "^       *<>„ 


^^.i 


*:^ 


C-.*  rt-  -A  *■ 


•■■*-vv^r,7v«;ft. 


^-' 


•-*». 


^<-'" 


.*  '■•^. 


V:; 


*   -(^i 


^^'^gife.iliJ^'XL-.i.Jtl'few 


■  ■'•"-waiSmT^'if'i  iiiffiii '  \:,t:.'lii't..  -^ 


■V 


<f     t  \ 


.■'«: 


•1^ 


»*      r      » 


^h 


4     jr  .       REPQET,      j5    *^^ 


If' 


■i^ftfc%  >• 


r  u:'.-m .,, 


SIR,: 


tVAR  DEPARTMENt, 


*^    '^.SJiV 


.Htv- 


Pin'  \^ 


b^w"* 


•I   ' 

January  25,  1814. 


;'-■* 


^IN  compliance  with  the  resolution  of  the  house 
of  repi:e8entatives  of  the  31  st  of  December  last,  re- 
questing such  information,  (not  improper  to  be  commu- 
nicated; as  may  tend  to  explain  the  causes  of  the  fai- 
lure of  the  arms  of  the  United  States,  on  the  northern 
frontier,  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following 
documents,  and  to  offer  to  you,  sir,  the  assurance  of 
the  very  high  respect  with  which  I  am  • 

;       ;!  *'J^    :-      ^  Your  most  obedient, 

.  '  'I '  •    » '  -  And  very  humble  servant, 

' '       '  ^*  JOHN  AEM^TRONQ, 

The  President*  i>. 


^iv  'i 


'»^;- 


H' 
J^ 


■>i^-:4 


;'«»   '• 


%f'^k%,  ■ 


-V,  ■■     *; 


'  'I 


^* 


I 


.-I 


./^' 


«i 


;^^    ¥'. 


n  .1  :■•* 


.# 


f. 


I 


ti' 


■'fft 


J"* 


»!?' 


•^M     ^**. 


pfef 


Vi 


*^ 


«^«^-^  i -#l^ 


^:'#- 
■"'# 


U16>     i 


.^-' 


i<- 


^t^^JWr   '  "1  '-^ 


.i'**. 


i#v 


•^  tt„.  b^ 


% 


ij^**^      Jl*    ' 


-at^  .*■ 


#.v«^.-W^f%',«V.«'-i,*l|' 


.^■ 


<» 


ij^f -^^^  i4j^Vii^=ri«*1i'  ^: *-'%> 


*f -i 


J'^X    jf^; 


'■4;tf 


V 


•vr 


•*f"iPfr',«f^J|»- 


^J 


tf 


J?  ■»'  >■  V,  I?- 


*-^r«5liB^r  .$,%'  fy. 


't-  -'J 


^^*i**«f!»«U      %iJ?,V^   .,,y;|i.,^i)*^ 


i'jf? 


,i>«  'T 


•■,<».        >•  --...■ 


^'^tw'^V'Jrv/^^ 


i,l»f   0i 


•t'.iW  , 


¥-^«^ 


./•  ,*- 


^*'< 


'i':'i-^j^;   -fei,; 


?«-', 


~i    ' '      M» ! 


.1.  **■■■       1.- 


«iV,*,  \ 


:^^Q^l 


i-«. 


-.4 


■M' 


»r 


' '  ',5 


0 


-••« .  .V*  ■* 


;^ 


iMk 


*i 


V-     •-■ 


,*%4* 


1»-  -  ,  < 


■*i?^ll. 


"v*- 


.^.«. 


5/-!"' 


;   <n 


■:•»*»*  I   r# 


iu^«'iBtsiS»;p 


^i=L^..^.i^     v^   ..^^^^■j .,,-u..- 


•  -^'^-— •TT-i.iiMiMiiii -  J  .1.: 


w  ■ 


.» ... 


'  U.  1  1  •     ■.: 


A. 


.  4-      ■'^' 


CorrMpondence  between  the  Secretary  of  War  and  Mi^or 
General  Bearborr.*  &c. 


% 


^V' '  \*'t%w 


^aie  'presented  to  the  Cabinet  on  tfi$  Sth  Februdrff 
1818,  by  the  Secretary  of  War.  . 

'  THE  enemy's  force  at  Montreal  and  its  depende^« 
cies  has  been  stated  at  16;000  effectives.  It  more 
probably  does  not  exceed  10  or  12,000.  The  militia 
part  of  it  may  amount  to  one  sixth  of  the  ivhole.  Is  it 
probable  that  we  shall  be  able  to  open  the  campaign 
on  lake  Ghamplain  with  a  force  competent  to  meet  and 
dislodge  this  army  before  the  10th  of  May  ?  I  put 
the  question  on  this  date,  because  it  is  not  to  be  doubt, 
ed  but  that  the  enemy  will  then  be  reinforced,  and,  of 
course,  that  hew  relations  in  point  of  strength  will  be 
established  between  us.  Our  present  regular  force 
on  both  sides  of  lake  Ghampliun  does  not  exceed 
S,400  men.  The  addition  made  to  it  must  necessarily 
consist  of  recruits,  who,  for  a  time,  will  not  be  better 
than  itiilitia ;  and  when  we  consider  that  the  recruiting 
service  is  but  beginning,  and  that  we  now  approach 
the  middle  of  February,  the  conclusion  is,  I  think, 
safe,  that  we  cannot  move  in  this  direction  and  thus 
early  (say  1st  of  May,)  with  effect.  :'       * 

ll  then  remains  to  choose  between  a  course  of  entire 
inaction,  because  incompetent  to  the  main  attack,  or 
one  having  a  secondary  but  still  an  important  object ; 
such  would  be  the  reduction  of  that  part  of  Upper 
Canada  lying  between  the  town  of  Prescott,  on  the 
St.  Lawrence  and  lake  Erie,  including  the  towns  of 
Kington  and  York,  and  Uie  for^is,  George  and  l^m. 


1 


8 


J*" 


[«4] 


On  this  line  of  frontier  tlie  enemy  have. 

At  Pretcott,  . '       .        ,      ^ ,-  '    800 

At  Kingston,  .        .        .       ^,  000 

At  Geol^  and  Erie,  &c.    .   *-;    X"    i^joo 

J    Makin|;atotal(ofregular  troops)  of     .    1^,100 
%    Kington  and  Inrescott,  and  the  destruction  of  the 
British  ships  at  the  former,  would  present  the  first 
object;  York  and  the  frigates  said  to  be  building 
there,  the  second ;  George  and  Erie  the  tlurd. 

The  force  to  be  employed  on  this  service  should 
not  be  less  than  6,000  effective  regular  troops,  be- 
cause in  this  first  enterprise  of  a  second  campaign 
nothing  must,  if  possible,  be  left  to  chance.        ,  ^. 

The  time  for  giving  execution  to  this  plan  is  clearly 
indicated  by  the  following  facts : 

1st.  The  river  St.  Lawrence  is  not  open  to  the  pur- 
poses of  navigation  before  the  15th  of  May :  And 

Sd.  Lake  Ontario  is  free  from  all  obstruction  aris- 
ing from  ice  by  the  Ist  day  of  April. 
V     Under  these  circumstances  we  shall  have  six  weeks 
lor  the  expedition  before  it  be  possible  for  sir  George 
Prevost  to  give  it  any  disturbance. 

Should  this  outline  be  approved,  the  details  for  the 
service 
hours. 


^ 


can  be  made  and  expedited  in  forty-eiglit 


.■^, 


•A 


"7} 


< 


?*:.' 


#:^ 


•>> 


I 


Mxtrdct  of  a  Utter  from  the  Secretary  at  Win*  to 
'^^''    !X- *  Major  General  Dearborn,  dated  ,. 

M-;rl^   "*■", '-•'■^  ^•^■'  r     ;■•''     ■■'^"'     WAR   DEPARTMENT>'5^r^  ; 

4'  ',"1V"*^  -^l^?--'  .'■''-> :  "•;>  ^V'  '  >"■''  February  10, 1818. 

J, "  .ni  (t  I  have  the  president's  orders  to  communicate 
to  you,  as  expeditiously  as  possible,  the  outline  of 
campaign  which  you  will  immediately  institute  and 
pursue  against  Upper  Canada :  ;^;^:f^^^}^^^: 


'^fe,^ 


Mtii 


-*''^ 


^'  Ist.  4^000  troops  will  bo  asiembled  atl^ackett's 
Harhor. 

"  8(1.  3^000  will  be  brought  together  at  Buffalo  and 
its  vicinity. 

^'  3d.  The  former  of  tliose  corps  will  bo  embarked 
and  transported  under  convoy  of  the  fleet  io Kingston, 
where  they  will  be  landed.  Kingston,  its  garrison^ 
and  the  British  ships  wintering  in  the  harbor  of  that 
place,  will  be  its  first  object.  Its  second  object  will 
be  York,  (the  capital  of  Upper  Canada,)  the  stores 
collected  and  the  two  fVij2;atcs  building  there.  Its 
third  object,  fortn  George  and  Erie,  and  their  depen- 
dencies. In  the  attainment  of  this  last,  there  will  be 
a  co-operation  between  the  two  corps.  The  compo- 
sition of  tliesc  will  bo  as  follows: 

1st.   Bloomileld's  brigade,     rx^.^'r, 

Sd.    Chandler's       ditto,      .     ;, 

3d.   Philadelphia  detachment,  C'il^W 

4th.  Baltimore  ditto,    .    .  '  »%i#^i. . 


Siv;  1,044 


■•>,, 


dth.  Carlisle     <^    i'    dittO; 
^  6th.  Oreenbush  ditto, 

;  7th.  Sackett's  Harbor  ditto^ 


■'^%J  'til^fyl. 


400  ). 
Book 
800  -h 
400  « 
850  s 


'^: 


4,080  >^ 


3,000 


i''- 


8th.  Several  corps  at  Buffalo  under  the 
command  of  colonel  Porter  and  the 
^,         recruits  belonging  thereto^     . 

^^Total,  %  .  ;i  7,030  >l 
^  *^  The  time  for  executing  the  enterprise  will  be  go» 
vemed  by  the  opening  of  lake  Ontario^  which  usually 
takesplace  about  the  first  of  April. 

^'  The  adjutant  general  has  orders  to  put  the  ^nore 
southern  detachments  in  march  as  expeditiously  as 
possible.  The  two  brigades  on  lake  Champlain  you 
will  move  so  as  to  give  them  full  time  to  reach  their 
place  of  destination  by  the  85th  of  March.  The  routt 
by  Elizabeth  will,  I  think,  be  the  shortest  and  best. 

S 


'■^l^j 


rit 


m 


r«r 


^'' 


'■J^-, 


"t 


^'i^^ 


[84] 


i*» 


Tliey  M^ill  be  replaced  by  some  new  raised  regimeiite 
from  the  east.         ^^  ^  ;  v^%  ^ 

r  <<  You  will  put  into  your  movements  as  much  pri^ 
vacy  as  may  be  compatible  with  their  execution. 
They  may  be  masked  by  reports  that  Sackett's  titit- 
bof  is  in  danger,  and  that  the  principal  eilbrt  will  be 
OH^de  oil  the  Niagara  in  co-operation  with  general 
Harrispn.  As  the  route  to  Sackett's  Harbor  and  to 
l^iagan^  is  for  a  considerable  distance  the  same,  it 
may  be  well  to  intimate,  even  in  orders,  that  the  lat- 
ter is  t|ie  destination  of  the  two  brigades  now  at  lake 
Champlain." 


'^:. 


■    '5,5     .'vwi,,   •  ■■.'■07TS     ■"■' 


V       ,         ALBANY,  February,  18, 1813.    '^^^; 

Your  despatches  of  the  10th  were  received  last 
ev€ining.  Nothing  shall  be  omitted  on  my  pai-t  in  en- 
deavouring to  carry  into  effect  the  expedition  pro- 


I  fear  the  very  large  magazines  of  provisions  on 
lake  Champlain  will  be  unsafe  unless  a  considerable 
part  is  removed  at  some  distance  fi*om  the  store,  or  a 
considerable  force  is  assembled  at  Burlington  and 
vicinity  by  the  time  the  two  brigades  shall  move. 
Another  motive  for  having  a  large  force  on  that  lake, 
will  be,  that  of  preventing  the  enemy  from  sending 
almost  his  whole  force  from  Lower  Canada  to  King- 
ston, as  soon  as  our  intentions  shall  be  so  far  known 
as  to  afford  satisfactory  evidence  of  our  intentions  in 
relation  to  the  conquest  of  Upper  Canada ;  and  unless 
an  imposing  force  shall  menace  Lower  Canada,  the 
enemies  whole  force  may  be  concentrated  in  Upper 
dtnada,  and  require  as  large  a  force  to  operate 
against  them  as  would  be  necessary  to  operate  to- 
wards Montreal.  It  may  be  advisable  to  draw  out 
a  body  of  New  Hampshire  militia  to  serve  for  a  short 
t.!m«».  in  Vermont*    Von  vnW  iiiflfpp.  of  thft  ftufnp.dip.nrv 


*i  ■.«aAV< 


J'-TI- 


*   4t* 

pn- 
ution. 
ftar- 
iUbQ 
neral 
nd  to 
ne,  it 
le  lat- 
lake 


l^'-.iSfl 


St' 


..^ 


;^^ 


m  ^^■ 


A\ 


*:>!■' 


¥1 


of  siicli  a  meagure ;  but  I  do  not  believe  that  tbere  vill  ^. 
be  a  sufficient  body  of  new  raisefl  troops  in  season 
for  taking  the  place  of  the  two  brigades. 

I  this  day  received  a  letter  from  colonel  Porter,  in 
which  he  informs  me  that  general  Winchester  h»4 
arrived  at  Niagara,  with  such  of  his  troops  as  had 
escaped  the  tomahawk,  and  that  they  wete  crossing 
over  on  parole ;  he  states  that  at  the  close  of  the  action 
every  man  who  by  wounds  or  other  causes  were  un- 
able to  march  were  indiscriminately  put  to  death. 
Such  outrageous  conduct  will  require  serious  at^ntion^ 
especially  when  British  troops  are  c;onceroe4  iJiJh'^ 
action.  ','-'^4^^'-'-:,.;'':^  -■''■  ■^  ■'■■■■' -•■^.■.- ^ 
\ .  .^:;     I  am,  Sir,    ;  > 


•V  ,.;; 


.v#' 


:^^'': 


Honorable  John  Armstrongi 

'^  ''"^■''  '\     Secretary  of  War. 


Yor  obedient  servant, 
H.  DEARBORN, 


"».' 


,^i. 


WAR  DEPARTMENT, 

February  S4),  1813. 

-  ^*V     ■'■■■;'.  ^I^'-:'-:  At^' 


'  '  '  Before  I  left  New  York,  and  till  very  recently 
since  my  arrival  here,  I  was  informed,  through  varioul 
channels,  that  a  winter  or  spring  attack  upon  King^ 
ston  was  not  nrncticable,  on  account  of  the  sno1v> 
which  generally  lays  to  the  depth  of  two,  and  6ome> 
times  of  thi^ee  feet,  over  all  that  northern  region  during 
those  seasons.  Hence  it  is,  that  in  the  plan  recently 
communicated,  it  was  thought  safest  and  best  to  make 
the  attack  by  a  combination  of  naval  and  military 
means,  and  to  approach  our  object,  not  by  directly 
crossing  the  8t.  Lawrence  on  the  ice,  but  by  setting 
out  from  Backett's  Harbor,  in  concert  with,  and  un- 
der convoy  of  the  fleet.  Later  information  differs 
from  that  on  which  this  plan  was  founded ;  and  the 


.^- 


I 


l! 


'W^ 


■  !. 


VP;?*^"^''*  -^ 


[54r||i 


v.H"t 


K-Ji 


^ 


w. 


W'  ,  vl**^ 


fqrtttiiate  iiisue  of  major  Forsytes  last  ekpeditioii-  ^ 
shews,  that  small  enterprises  at  least,  may  be  sue- ,. 
cessfully  executed  at  the  present  season.    The  ad-  i 
vices  given  in  your  letter  of  the  instant,  has  a 

bearing  also  on  the  same  point  and  to  the  same  ef> 
feet;    If  the  enemy  be  really  weak  at  Kingston  andv 
approachable  by  land  and  ice,  Pike  (who  will  be  ^^ 
brigadier  in  a  day  or  two)  may  be  put  into  motion*'^ 
from  lake  Champlain,  by  the  Ghateauge  route,  (in  t 
sleighs)  and  witn  the  ttpo  brigades,  cross  the  ot..^ 
Lawrence  where  it  may  be  thought  best,  destroy  the  - 
armed  ships  and  seize  and  hold  Kingston  until  you 
can  join  him  with  the  otlier  corps  (le»tined  for  the  fii.. 
tare  objects  of  the  expedition ;  an^  if  pressed  by  Pre- 
vost,  before   such  junction  can  be  effected,  he  may -^ 
withdraw  himself  to  Sackctt's  Harbor,  or  other  place 
of  security  on  our  side  of  the  line.    This  would  be  * 
much  the  shorter  road  to  the  object,  and  perhaps  the^' 
safer  one,  as  the  St.  Lawrence  is  now  every  whei-e 
well  bridged,  and  offers  no  obstruction  to  either  at- ;; 
taek  or  retreat.     Such  a  movement  will,  no  doubt,  b«., 
soon  known  to  Frevost,  and  cannot  but  disquiet  him.  . 
The  dilemma  it  presents,  will  be  serious.    Either  he  . 
must  give  up  his  western  posts,  or  to  save  them,  he, 
must  carry  himself  in  force,  and  promptly,  to  Uppe?f 
Canada.    In  the  latter  case,  he  will  be  embarrassed 
for  subsistence.     His  convoys  of  provision  will  be 
open  to  our  attacks,  on  a  line  of  nearly  one  hundred 
miles,  and  his  position  at  Montreal  much  weakened. 
Another  decided  advantage  will  be,  to  let  us  into  the 
secret  of  his  real  strength.    If  he  be  able  to  make 
heavy  detachments  to  cover,  or  to  recover  Kingston^  v 
and  to  protect  his  supplies,  and  after  all  maintain 
himself  at  Montreal  and  on  lake  Champlain,  he  is 
stronger  than  I  imagined,  or  than  any  well  authenti. 
cated  reports  make  him  to  be. 

With  regard  to  our  magazines,  my  belief  is,  that  f 
we  have  nothing  to  fear ;  because,  as  stated  above^^ 
Prevosl's  attention  must  be  given  to  the  western  posts 


■Ki 


ad-  > 
las  a 
e  ef^ 

andv  ,, 
be  av> 
otiont-^ 

(mi 

St. 
y  the  ^ 

you 

le  fit. 
Pre. 


i^' 


J. 


f<v 


%' '"('. 


C»3 


•■'V:. 


u^i?. 


Jmi 


i^ti)  ^^^ovements  against  thiMHeiHUiuit  dare 
to  advance  Abrihwardly  while  a  heavy  corps  is  open^- 
ing  00  his  flank  and  menacing  his  lineof  communica-' 
tioc.  But  on  the  other  supposition^  they  ^the  maga- 
zines) may  be  easily  secured ;  Ist,  by  tasing  them 
to  WiUsborough ;  or  Sd,  to  Burlington ;  or  Sd,  by  a^ 
jnilitia  call,  to  protect  them  virhere  mey  are.  Orders 
are  given  for  the  march  of  the  eastern  volunteers,  ex- 
cepting Ulmer's  regiment  and  two  companies  of  axe 
pien,  sent  to  open  the  route  to  the  Ghamdiere. 

The  southern  detachments  will  be  much  stronger 
than  I  had  supposed.  That  from  Philadelphia  will 
mount  up  nearly  to  1000  effectives;^  |vfi?|ii 

P-m^'^^^:^f^}n      ■  With  great  lespect,-^ P'^'^^^t^Pfmn 
\;u^^f^mf^>^ :  jjgj^^.  General,     '  #i#lf  ^-^  '# 

wv*:^  #.  ^^  ifi^^  I  a™  yo"i«  faithfully, 
J.f-*^4#^>^^;  ,  JOHN  ARMaTROKia.  . 


w 


■enetal  Dearborhl 


'»>.'.•■ . 


^^r*f^'l^**^-'*'"''HpAD   QUARTERS,  ALBANY,   '^l 

^'i$V       I  this  day  received  by  express  from  colonel 
Macomb,  the  inclosed  account  from  major  Forsyth. 
His  known  zeal  for  a  small  partizan  warfare,  has 
induced  me  to  give  him  repeated  caution  *^.gainst  such 
measures,  on  his  part,  as  would  probably  produce 
i«  such  retaliating  strokes  as  he  would  be  unable  to  re- 
sist; but  I  fear  my  advice  has  not  been  as  fully  at- 
.^tended  to  as  could  have  been  wished.     He  is  an  ex- 
';'  cellent  officer,  and  under  suitable  circumstances  would 
,4be  of  important  service.         ,    .>/--:,/'»« 
I  have  requested  the  governor  to  order  general 
Brown  out  with  three  or  four  hundred  of  such  militia 
as  he  can  soonest  assemble,  to  join  Forsyth;  and  I 


I 


"Jr«,  r'^^' 


It 


T"' 

^s-     '^'''-'S* 

;'',vf;^ . 

m 

^^#^    ..:f^ 

.^il 


,W.j^:vi 


■«^'- 


liblonel  Pi)ie>  with  Urar  btiiidred  of  ]ii« 
comnaBd^  to  proceed  in  sUighs  by  what  ii  considered, 
the  ftbortegl  tod  best  rante,  to  ibe  neigbbourbood  of 
Ogdensbutgj  or  to  Sacketts  Harbor.  On  bis  arrival 
St  Potsdatn^  01^  Canton  or  Bussel^  he  will  be  able  to 
commoiiicate  with  Brown  or  Forsyth,  or  both,  and 
act  with  them,  as  circumstances  may  require. 
4  Tlie  aflEur  at  Ogdensbarg  will  be  a  fair  excuse  for 
moyin^  troops  in  that  direction ;  and  by  this  move- 
ment it  will  be  asoertained  whether  the  same  route 
will  the  best  in  future  t  the  distance  b^  that  route 
from  Plattsborg  to  Sacketts  Harbor,  is  but  little 
more  than  one  half  of  what  it  would  be  by  the  route 
proposed,  and  I  am  assured  by  a  gentleman,  whom  I 
can  confide  in,  that  there  will  be  no  c^ii&culty  by  that 
Toute. 

Chauncejr  has  liot  yei  retamed  from  New  York. 
I  am  satisiMMl  that  if  he  had  arrived  as  soon  aa  I  hadt 
expected  himf  wt  might  have  made  a  stroke  at  King- 
ston on  the  ice,  but  his  pi'esence  was  necessary  for  ^ 
having  the  aid  of  the  seamen  and  marines.        W^  '^ 
f  From  a  letter  received  this  day  from  colonel  Por-' 
ier  at  Niagara,  it  appears  that  the  enemy  were  pre- 
paring to  strike  at  Black  Rock.  ,:-;..,  w.>  ,.  .^,. 
,I.can  give  him  no  assistance.  ''^0'%y-}0^ 
-  '         I  am  sir,  with  respect  and  esteem,^?  ?^'''^i« 
'^    ;                   Your  obedient  humble  servani    ;  *"" 
11:1^:1^:^*.,  .....  ,,H.DEABBORN. 

Hon.  lohh  ArmitrDng^  -?,  ,,%-r:.v  t  ;.r'~^-:  vv -v"-*';'^'  .-^W^^'* 
,^  Secretary  of  War.  ,^',  .     ■'^.■:,  "^ 'ii'^^is^P^ ■ 


:%- 


v- 


y' 


A'l^tA   >     ■- r 


'f  -    i    ■ 


■i 


-i ,  <*". 


F^ruary  ^  iiii 


'^-,,1. 


•>'•''»&; 


v^  I  have  only  time  to  inform  that  the  enemy,  with 
a  very  soperiolf  force,  succeeded  in  taking  Ogdens- 
burg'tkis  morning  about  nine  o'clock.    They  had 


■0 


.1 


■M.     ^ 


^ ."  m 


■  H 


M 


i 


;iV 


''.I 

■  1. . 


w. 


about  two  men  to  eur  on^?  eyclc|s|y0  6f  Iii^aiis, 
Numbers  of  the  enemy  aie  dead  on  the  field.    Not . 
more  than  twenty  of  our  men  killed  and  wounded  | 
lieutenant  Beard  is  among  the  latter. 

I  have  made  a  saving  retreat  of  about  eight  or  idno 
Utiles.    I  could  not  get  all  the  wounded  off. 
-^  We  have  killed  two  of  the  enem^  to  one  of  oum 
killed  by  them.   We  want  ammunition  and  some  pro- 
visions sent  on  to  us,  also  sleighs  for  the  wounded* 
H  If  you  can  send  me  three  hundred  men  ail  shall  b€ 
fe-ieien,  and  PreaeoU  too.  Or  I  will  lose  my  life  iii 
the  attempt.    I  shall  write  you  ttiore  particularly  to^ 
day. 
%f^''  Yours,  with  due  respect,         ■ -*^-mk 

■  ■W^^^^^'-^  'BENJAMIN  FORSYTHi*-^-^ 

'  '^^sftii  ''^^ ''"•$' "'  ?^'  ''^"    ^^JP^'  n/^  ^'  commandingm 

:  .  c   ^^  .  ' "  - '  '^- '"'''  ■  "'^'  '--^  n-'i-^  .^ "^  eft,  ^-    ■     ■     -'^-^ 

Cttir Macomb}  Sidkett's  Harbor. " ';?' %^*M^W-^^^  l^-p^  f>-^ ' 

Extract  of  a  Utter  from  Mqjor  Generid  Dearhom 
^''M^f^M..  ^othe  Secreta/rff  at  War,  dated  -^r-^m.' 

F*       ^M  ALBANY,  February  26,  1813. 

^^  Having  received  information  that  sir  George  Pre^ 
vost  was  moving  towards  Upper  Canada  With  consi' 
derable  force,  but  not  such  as  can  be  fidly  relied  o% 
I  have,  however,  ordered  400  more  of  Pike's  com« 
mand  to  follow  the  first  detachment  without  delay." 


^^^^^^f^ -^    HEAD^QUARTERS,  SACKETT's  HARBOR, 


-  .4  .  ■ 


li''''.  '.'■<■ 


MarchS.  1813w, 

.4^     Having  been  informed  that  sir  George  fwm^ 
itad  adjourned  the  legislature  at  Quebec,  assigning  as 


■'  ..* 


■  V 


'     r  .' 


IS 


Mi:, 


/'^..  ' 


'[»*] 


the  motive  that  his  majesty's  service  required  his  pre- 
sence in  Upper  Canada,  and  having  received  certain 
information  of  his  passing  Montreal  and  having  ar- 
rived at  Kingston,  I  set  out  immediately  for  this  place, 
having  ordered  the  force  at  Ghreenbush,  and  part  of 
colonel  iPike's  command  in  sleighs,  for  this  place.  I 
arrived  here  in  flfty-two  hours.  I  am  no^v  satisfied, 
from  such  informauon  a£  is  entitled  to  full  credit,  that 
a  force  has  been  collected  from  Quebec,  Montreal  and 
Upper  Canada,  of  from  six  to  eight  thousand  men,  at 
Kingston,  and  that  we  may  expect  an  attack  within 
fbrty-eight  hours  and  perhaps  sooner. 

The  militia  have  been  called  in  and  every  effort 
will,  I  trust,  be  made  to  defend  the  post;  but,  I  fear 
neither  the  troops  from  Greenbush  nor  Platt^burgh 
will  arrive  in  season  to  afford  their  aid.  I  have  sent 
expresses  to  have  them  hurried  (m,..^''^'^'f7'^'/'^^'^' 

Commodore  Chauncey  has  not  arrived ;  he  will  be 
here  to-morrow.  The  armed  vessels  have  not  been 
placed  in  the  positions  intended  by  the  commodore. 

Our  total  force  may  be  estimated  at  nearly  three 
thousand  of  all  descriptions. 

Sir  George  Prevost  is  represented  to  be  determined 
to  effect  his  o^ect  at  all  events,  and  will  undoubtedly 
make  every  efirort  in  his  power  for  the  purpose,  t  '^: ' 

We  shall,  I  trust,  give  him  a  warm  reception ;  but, 
if  his  force  is  such  as  is  expected  and  should  make  an 
attack  before  our  troops  arrive  from  Greenbush  and 
Flattsbnrgh  at  Sackett's  Harbor,  the  result  may  at 
least  be  doubtful.  t^'^ 

I  have  the  honor,  sir,  to  be, 
•>  Y      With  the  highest  respect  and  consideration, 
^ .      Your  obedient  humble  servant,     .!  ^ 


Hon.  John  Armstrong, 
Secretiu-y  of  War, , 


H.  DEARBORN. 


[-.(.1. 


'i-: 


...  Jkf:' 


■■^•'. 


■^ 


■;■>-> 


sackett's  BARBdl^  March  9/iil8. 

SIR, 

I  have  not  yet  bad  the  honor  of  a  visit  irpm  sir 
Q.  Prevost.  His  whole  fatce  i§  concentrated  at  Kii^- 
stonj  probably  amountin<;  to  six  or  seven  thousand; 
about  three  thousand  of,  them  rej^uW  troops.  ^I^he 
ice  is  good,  and  we  expect  iiiin  every  day^  and  every 
meusui'e  for  preventing  a  surprise  is  in  constant  ac- 
tivity. The  troops  from  Greeubush  (up  wards  of  400) 
have  arrived.  I,  have  heard  nothing  from  Pike :  he 
should  have  been  here  yesterday.  I  have  sent  threi^ 
expresses  to  meet  him;  neither  has  returned.  I  have 
su^Hcions  of  the  express  employed  by  the  quarter 
jnaster  general  {6  convey  the  orders  to  Pike:  the 
earliest  measures  were  taken  for  conveying  a  dupli- 
cate of  his  orders.  I  hope  to  hear  from  him  to-cfay. 
His  arrival  with  eiglit  hundred  good  troops  would  be 
very  important  at  tliis  time.  The  enemy  are  apprized 
of  his  movement.  -M    ;V»  ,  ^ 

I  begin  to  entertain  some  doubts  whether  sir  George 
will  venture  to  attack  us ;  but  shall  not  relax  in  being 
prepared  to  give  him  a  decent  reception.    >::f^?^.sv;v>!    if- 

I  should  feel  easier  if  Pike  should  arrive  m  season. 
I  am  in  want  of  officers  of  experience.  My  whole 
Ibrce,  exclusive  of  seamen  and  marines,  who  will  be 
confined  to  the  vessels  and  have  no  share  ui  the  action 
until  my  force  shall  be  worsted,  a,mounts  to  nearly 
3000,  exclusive  of  450  militia  at  Brownville,  and  on 
tlie  road  leading  from  Kingston  by  land.  Within 
two  or  three  days  I  may  have  300  more  militia  from 
Rome  and  Utica. 

The  ice  will  not  probably  be  passable  more  than 
tVom  six  to  ten  days  longer;  it  is  not  usually  passable 
after  the  1 5th  of  March.  This  unexpected  movement 
of  the  enemy  will  eflFectually  oppose  the  movements 
contemplated  on  our  part,  and  I  shall  not  tliink  it  ad.% 
visable  to.  order  general  Chandler  to  move  at  present. 
As  soon  as  the  fall  of  this  place  shall  be  decided,  we 

2 


^>:l 


* 


/,  :,:-:.:/;..■ 


H 


[M] 


shall  b^  able  to  determine  on  other  measures.    If  we 

'I  hold  this  place  we  will  command  the  lake,  and  be 
able  to  act  in  concertwith  the  troops  at  Niagara,  while 

:  Chamllet's  brigade,  with  such  other  troops  as  may 
assemble  in  Vermont,  may  inchice  a  return  of  a  consi- 

^  denible  part  oC  those  troops  that  have  left  Lower 

^CAniida, 

*'  When  I  ordered  Pike  to  move  I  directed  general 
Chandler  to  have  the  provision  at  Plattsbni^gh  moved 
tojhitlington.  Inhere  was  but  a  small  proportion  of 
our  magazines  at  Plattsbureh;  they  are  principally  ai 
Burlington  and  White  Hall.  f  ; 

>ii^  4>  Yours  with  respect  and  esteem,       ;  ;;|^ 

Hor^  JotoAfiMtrong.   •^^-^1#'-?>^'|^vt '<«(%*       . 


;jfV  1 


s. 


Mxtraet  of  a  lettpv  from  Major  General  J)earharn 
tgthe  iSe^re^ar|f  at  War,  dated 


,«*" 


''# 


HHJi-' 


Mai-ch  14, 1813. 


'*Fi'om  the  most  recent  and  probable  informa- 
tion I  have  obtained,  I  am  induced  to  believe  that  sir 
George  Prevost  has  concluded  that  it  is  too  late  to 
attack  this  place.  He  undoubtedly  meditated  a  coup- 
de^main  against  the  shipping  here.  All  the  apprehen- 
sion is  now  at  Kingston.  Sir  George  has  visited 
York  and  Niagara,  and  returned  to  Montreal.  Se- 
veral bodies  of  troops  have  lately  passed  up  from 
Montreal ;  but  such  precautions  have  been  taken  to 
prevent  their  number  being  ascertained,  as  to  render 
it  impossible  to  form  any  accurate  opinion  of  their 
forces,  or  even  to  imagine  very  nearly  what  they 
amount  to.  From  various  sources  I  am  perfectly  satis- 
fied, that  they  are  not  in  sufficient  force  to  venture  au 
attack  on  this  place,  knowing  as  they  do  that  we  haye 
"collected  a  fine  body  of  iroopsfrom  Greenbiish  and 


C'*] 


..  t'fe 


4  -^l-Ai  . 


PUttslnnrgh,  and  that  the  militia  haye  been  cuffed  in. 
We  are  probably  just  strong  enough  on  each  side  to 
defend ;  but  not  m  sufRcient  force  to  h^^rd  an  oflfen* 
live  movement.  The  difference  of  attilcking  and  being 
attacked,  as  it  regards  uie  contiguous  posts  of  Kings- 
ton  and  Sackett's  Harbor,  cannot  be  estimated  at  lesa 
than  three  orrfour  thousand  men,  arising  firom  the  cir- 
cumstance of  militia  acting  merely  on  the  defensive. 
I  have  ordered  general  Chandler  with  the  9th,Sist 
and  25ih  regiments  to  march  for  thi|i{dAce ;  Glttrk's  re* 
giment  and  a  company  of  artillery  to  be  left  at  Bur- 
lington for  the  present,  where  tlte  regiment  will  lie 
filled  in  a  few  weeks.  I  have  ordered  the  recruits  for 
the  three  regiments  that  will  march  for  this  place  to 
be  sent  to  Greenbush,  and  colonel  Larned  is  ordered 
there  to  recede  them  with  Bachus's  dismounted  dra- 
goons and  other  detachments  from  Pitts&eld.''        .^ 


•-.(•^ 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  Major  General  Dearbotn 
to  the  Secretary  at  War,  dated 

'  '  %-cf^^^!-,^ ■i^'^/.,^^^,  March  16th,  1813. 
^  It  was  yesterday  unanimously  determined  in 
a  council  of  the  principal  officers,  including  commo- 
dore Chauncoy,  that  we  ought  not,  under  existing  cir- 
cumstances, to  make  an  attempt  on  Kingston,  fte/bre 
the  naval  force  can  act.  The  harbors  in  this  lake 
will  not  probaldy  be  open  so  as  to  admit  of  the  vessels 
being  moved  until  about  the  15th  of  April."  rff^rr; 


■''^.: 


'  1USr~' 


^tr-r 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  Major  General  Dearborn 
,^to  the  Secretary  at  War,  without  date  ;  propos- 
ing to  pass  by  Kingston,  and  attaclp  York,  ^c,  ^. 

<<To  take  or  destroy  the  armed  vesseli  at 
York,  will  give  us  the  complete  command  of  th^ 


>vn 


'•■>  '-   ■, 


1" 
i'  . 


:^ 


♦'■  'jt 


■hJ 


[54] 


Ikke.  Commodore  Chauucey  can  take  wiUi  him  ten 
or  twelve  hundred  troopR,  to  be  commanded  by  Pike ; 
take  York,  from  tlience  proceed  to  Niagara,  and  at. 
tack  fort  George  by  lana  and  "water,  while  the  troops 
at  BuiTalo  cross  over  and  carry  forts  Erie  and  Chipe- 
wa^  and  join  those  at  fort  Oeoree;  an(l>then  collect 
-our  whole  force  for  an  attack  on  Kingst^iV.  After  the 
moat  matare  deliberation,  the  above  was  consider^ 
ed  b^  <;ommodore  Ghauncey  and  myself  as  the  most 
certain  of  ultimate  success.'' 


■.,<sf 


«n»^ .. 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  the  Secrtkary  at  War,  to 
*,..;     ..  Major  General  Dearborn,  dated       «,«*-  i;;. 


■fr,  *' 


.         "'^WAR    DEPARTMENT, 

^fj^A     -March  39,  1813.  * 


■;*«• 


'^  Your  despatches  of  the  11th  and  14th  instant, 
from  Backett's  Harbor,  and  one  of  the  S3d,  from 
Albany,  have  been  received.  The  correspondence 
between  you  and  major  Murray,  in  relation  to  an  ex> 
change  of  prisoners,  has  been  referred  to  the  departs 
ment  of  state.  The  alteration  in  the  plan  of  cam*, 
paign,  so  as  to  make  Kingston  the  last  object,  instead 
of  making  it  the  first,  would  appear  to  be  necessary, 
or  at  least  proper;  but  the  force  assigned  to  the 
attack  of  the  upper  points,  is  believed  to  be  too  small. 
^*  Accident  may  prevent  a  co-opperation  of  the  corps 
at  Bufialo.  That  sent  from  Sackett's  Harbor  should 
have  in  itself  the  power  of  reducing  forts  George  and 
Brie,  and  holding  in  check  the  militia  who  may  bic 
sent  to  support  them.  The  ships  can  give  little  aid 
in  the  business,  except  merely  in  covering  the  land- 
iiigr    Double    the  number   you  purpose  sending. 


■^     ... 


«.« 


IM] 


u 


would  notl)e  too  man^.  Various  coiisiSerAtions  re- 
roiiimend  the  einplnynipnt  of  a  larse  and  decisive 
force,  and  none,  tliat  I  can  tliink  of,  dissuade  fmm  it. 
If  our  first  step  in  tlie  campaign,  and  in  tiie  quarter 
from  which  most  is  expected,  should  fail,  the  disEince 
of  our  arms  will  be  complete.  The  public  wiUloae 
all  confidence  in  us,  and  we  shall  even  cease  to  have 
any  in  ourselves.  Tlie  party  who  first  opens  a  cam- 
paign,  has  many  advantages  over  his  antagonist,  all 
of  whi(  h,  however,  are  the  result  of  his  being  able  to 
carry  his  whole  force  against  a  part  of  his  enemy's. 
Washiiis;ton  carried  his  whole  force  against  the  Hes- 
sians in  New  JerHcy,  and  beating  them,  I'ecovered 
that  moral  strength,  that  self-confidence,  which  he 
hflb  lost  by  many  preceding  disasters.  We  are  now 
in  that  state  of  prostration  that  he  was  in,  after  he 
crossed  the  Delaware  ;  but,  like  him,  we  may  soon 
get  on  our  legs  again,  if  we  are  able  to  give  some 
hard  blows  at  thet  opening  of  the  campaign.  In  this 
we  cannot  fail,  provided  the  force  we  employ  against 
his  western  posts  be  sufficiently  heavy.  They  must 
stand  or  fall  by  their  own  strength.  They  are  per- 
fectly isolated  and  out  of  the  raach  of  reinforcements : 
send  therefore  a  force  that  shall  overwhelm  them — > 
that  shall  leave  nothing  to  chance.  If  I  had  not  an- 
other motive,!  would  carry  my  whole  strength,  merely 
that  their  first  service  should  be  a  successful  one.  The 
good  efiTccts  of  this  will  be  felt  throughout  the  caiioi- 
paign.  tr-f^^'-r"*'-^-' J-'-  ^  ^'^-v^  A^-'x^v-y^tw*':-  f  •'  ■'■•^''M^''i;i^i^; 
"  I  have  hastened  to  give  you  these  thoughts,  un&r 
a  full  conviction  of  their  usefulness  ;  and  shall  only 
add,  that  there  is  no  drawback  upon  this  policy. 
When  the  fleet  and  army  are  gone,  we  have  nothing 
at  Sackett's  Harbour  to  guard,  nor  will  the  place  pre- 
sent an  object  to  the  enemy.  ^^^^  «j5*^-i^^>--^^^3^ 
'^if*  How  then  would  it  read,  that  we  had  lost  our  ob- 
ject on  the  Niagara,  while  we  had  another  brigade  at 


^» 


Sackett's  Harbour  doing 


nothing?" 


.^^>;»?  ^^- 


m 


[M] 

%xiraci  /a  Mm' from  Major  Opneral  DeMrhom  to 
the  Secretary  at  IVar^  dated  ^,, 

ALBANY,  Ajiril  ?i,  iSiS, 

*'  Tbnvc  this  dtiy  l>eeii  iiouored  with  your  let- 
ter of  the  aoth  (  ^Umo.  As  troops  caunot  with  aafetv 
be  tranMimriec)  from  Sackett's  Harbor  to  York  or  NU 
ugara  in  hatteauxotjlat  bottomed  hoata,  1  must  depend 
on  comremlore  Chauncey't  armed  vcnsels,  with  one  or 
two  other  Hloops,  for  the  transportation  of  our  troops  i 
and  it  was  considrred  doubtful  whether  more  tl\ai( 
tweho  hundred  men  could  be  so  conveyed,  v,^)tch 
DiimlM^r  I  considered  amply  sufRcient  for  the  H  M 
objects  contemplated ;  but  as  many  as  can  I«»*  transport- 
ed witJi  safety  shall  be  sent.  The  co-operation  of  Ihe 
troops  under  general  Lewis  may  be  relied  on.  Boyd 
and  Winder  arc  wi'h  him,  and  nothing  bnt  outrageous 
^les  of  wind  can  prevent  success. 

'<  The  troops  from  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania  ar- 
rived last  evening.  They,  with  the  other  detachments 
Kit  Greenbush,  v ;  \\  proceed  towards  lake  Ontario  with- 
in two  or  three  days.  As  soon  as  practicable,  after 
sending  off  tlie  troops,  I  shall  move  westward."  -y^j^, 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,       -C»# 

April  19, 181^''' 

SIR  ""'"'  '  ^■/•■':  •■*'■'   ■■''  ' _^-'-' 

i;  Taking  'or  panted  thrt  ^;fT»'r^!  Pi-ev  *  ha6 
fltotbeen  able,  or  willing,  to  i  :sJ;  ..v  vlalden,  Erie, 
and  George,  and  that  he  has  assembled  at  Kingston  a 
force  of  six  or  eight  thouaand  men,  (as  stated  by  you) 
we  must  conclude  that  he  means  to  hazard  his  more 
wcf»tem  posts,  shorten  his  line  of  defence^  and  pUbOQ 
hy  right  liank  on  lake  Ontario.  »  .*.  .wj;!^,^  yi.  ^  tv! 
This  s  i'vangement  is,  no  doalit,  in  consequence  of 
our  preparations  at  8ackett's  Harbor.    These  gave 


liJT. 


[94] 

•I              ,  ■      < 

u  ,'...      ,  .  .  .  t      .,.•.,         ♦• 

fum  reaioh  to  fttr  that' we  meaiit  ^  ciillilflllM  of 
coiiiniunication  at  i)  <ft  poiul,  which,  to  long  an  he  ha« 
a  hope  of  keeping  the  cuinmaiiU  of  the  Uke^  ht  one  of 
inAuite  iniportanic  'o  hit*  va    m. 

The  danger,  however^  now  is,  that  in  the  event  of 
the  (lUOcesM  of  our  presen  t  expedition,  bf  may  Iom 
thi»  hope,  ahaiiilon  Kingston  and  concentrate  his 
fontes  at  Montreal. 

Thi»  event  is,  in  my  opinion,  so  prohahI%  as  to 
render  ne<;eHsary  a  communication  of  the  views  of  the 
president,  in  relatitin  to  the  movements  on  your  paiH, 
(which  shall  he  subsequent  to  those  now  making)  tm 
two  suppositions : 

Ist.  xhat  the  enemy  will  keep  his  ground  at  King- 
ston ;  and  ?H>v,-    '-  w»- 

Sd.  That  he  will  abandon  that  ground  <tud  with- 
draw from  Montreal. 

On  the  first  supposition,  there  is  no  difficulty  in 
either  selecting  our  object,  or  the  means  of  i>ur8uing 
it.  We  ought  to  destroy  the  communication  between 
Kingston  and  Montreal,  by  interposing  a  competent 
force  between  the  two,  and  assailing  the  former  by  a 
joiht  operation  of  military  and  naval  means. 

Local  circumstances  favor  this  project.  A  few  arm- 
ed  boats  on  lake  St.  Francis,  stops  all  intercourse  by 
water ;  in  which  case,  cannon,  military  stores  and  avti^ 
cles  of  subsistence  in  buI/Cf  cannot  be  conveyeil  Im^ 
tween  Montreal  and  Kingston.  *?* 

From  lake  Ontario  to  Ogdensburg  we  command 
the  navigation  of  the  St.  Lawrence  by  our  armed  ves- 
sels, and  under  their  protection,  our  army  can  be 
passed  over  and  established  on  the  Canada  side  at  the 
point  deemed  most  proper  for  attack. 

On  the  other  supposition,  that  the  British  garrison 
is  withdrawn  from  Kingston  to  Montreal,  the  old 
({iiestion  of  approaching  him  by  lake  Ghamplain,.  or 
l»y  the  St.  Lawrence,  recurs,  and  ought  now  to  be  set- 
(Ird,  90  ♦hnt  there  should  bo  no  unnetress^ry  pause  in 


'''  "■*^W/W?^Sr :  I 


'"^^,- 


...,...y 


[54] 


•'!(' 


ouropemiions  at  a  latei'and  more  momeutous  period 
of  the  campaign. 

The  circumstances  in  favor  of  the  St.  Lawrence 
route,  are  these :  «fvj5*^^?mj^<v  />^ 

1st.  Our  force  is  now  upon  it. 
»    Sd.  It  furnishes  a  conveyance  by  water  the  whotiii 
distance. 

3d.  The  enemy  is  not  fortified  on  the  St.  Lawrence 
side,  and  has  on  it  no  strong  out-posts,  which  must  he 
forced,  in  order  to  secure  our  flanks  and  rear,  while 
engaged  in  tiie  main  attack;  and     .^,  r^>,  i^^^,^. 

4tli.  By  approachin!^  hisj^awfr,  (as  this  route  ena- 
bles you  to  do)  instead  of  \m  front,  we  compel  him  to 
change  his  position,  in  which  case,  he  must  do  one  of 
four  things  :  eilher  he  must  occupy  the  north  side  of 
the  river  and  give  up  the  south,  or  he  must  occupy  tiie 
south  side  and  give  up  the  north,  or  he  must  confine 
himself  to  the  island  and  give  up  both  sides ;  or  lastly* 
he  must  occupy  both  sides,  and  in  this  case  expose 
himself  to  be  beaten  in  detail. 

None  of  these  advantages  are  to  be  found  in  ap- 
proaching him  by  the  other  route.  Our  troops  are  not 
upon  it ;  we  cannot  move  by  water ;  his  out-posts  are 
fortified,  and  must  be  carried  by  assault ;  his  front  is 
the  only  assailable  point,  and  that  is  covered  by  the 
St.  Lawrence;  our  attack  must  be  made  exactly 
where  he  wishes  it  to  be  made ;  all  his  arrangements 
and  defences  are,  of  course,  in  full  operation,  nor  is 
he  compelled  to  disturb  them  in  the  smallest  degree. 
In  a  word,  we  must  fight  him  on  his  previous  disposi- 
tions and  plans,  and  not  on^ny  of  oitr  oilpw.-         '  X: 

These  reasons  are  deemed  conclusive  for  prefer- 
ring the  route  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  your  mea- 
sures (subsequent  to  your  present  expedition)  will, 
therefore,  be  conformed  to  this  view  of  the  subject. 
_,^  I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

^j^r4»-.^      V  Your  obedient  servant. 


f^i>^:. 


%^-^'tU 


Major  Genera!  Deai'born, 


JOHN  ARMSTRONG. 


¥' 


— l.-l'l.lVi 


[»*] 


i5 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  Major  General  Beafhom  to 
the  Secretary  at  War,  dated 


'.SS 


't^y^'-Vii' 


SACKETT'S  HARBOB; 


-tT. 


April  S3, 181B. 


•>"»»> 
<»»' 


"The  troops  embarked  yesterday.  Sveiy  vessel 
is  crowded  with  as  many  mea  as  possible ;  the  total 
number  1600,  of  the  best  men.  I  trust  we  shall  sail 
within  one  or  two  hours.  If  the  sails  for  a  new  ves^ 
sel  arrive  within  a  day  or  two,  and  a  small  sloop  froni 
Oswego,  which  ought  to  have  been  here  five  dayi 
since,  150  more  men  will  go  in  them.  The  ice  did 
not  move  out  until  the  19th ;  I  arrived  on  the  SOth/' 


s'.-; 


'*•  r  .,r  p. 


■^  •-■Hi'-  ■  • 


4   .,-.,.  ^f.  -Jjv.  ,^v  J  -  jpi^ 

ri'i. .     .  ' .,] 

■■J   .*!  ■<•',• ,    "■  \j-  ■!._   t  .I-.  i<:.i,i5 


..<     V 


HEAD   QUARTERS,  YORK,  UPPER  CANADA^    '< 

.  :  ^  '  "      -        ;   April  28, 1813.    ^^  W 


■.^ 


V,  '  vl  ,-it»i  '.Vi 


SIR, 

After  a  detention  of  some  days,  by  adverse 
winds,  we  arrived  here  yesterday  morning,  and  at  8 
o'clock  commenced  landing  our  troops  about  threb 
miles  westward  of  the  town,  and  one  and  a  half  from 
the  enemy's  works.  The  wind  was  high  and  in  an 
unfavorable  direction  for  our  boats,  which  prevented 
the  troops  landing  at  a  clear  field  (the  ancient  site  of 
the  French  fort  Tatento.)  The  unfavorable  wind 
prevented  as  many  of  the  armed  vessels  from  taking 
such  positions  as  would  as  efPectually  cover  our  land- 
ing as  they  otherwise  would  have  done ;  but  every 
thing  that  could  be  done  was  effected.  Our  riflemeti 
under  major  Forsyth  first  landed,  under  a  heavy  fire 
from  Indians  and  other  troops.  General  Sheaffe  com- 
manded in  person.  He  had  collected  his  whole  force 
in  the  woods  near  where  the  wind  obliged  our  tmops" 
to  land,  consisting  of  about  700  regulars  and  militia, 
and  100  Indians.    Major  Forsyth  was  supported,  m 


■J^. 


\w7r 


■^p^nvfwnp 


■&.■ 


*!<^ 


>-i 


iv- 


^?^ 


§1 


[»*] 


prbmpily  as  possible,  with  other  troops ;  but  the  con^ 
test 'WAS  sharp  and  severe  for  near  half  an  hour.  The 
enemy  was  repulsed  by  a  far  less  number  than  their 
own,  and  as  soon  as  general  Pike  landed  with  7  op 
800  men,  and  the  remainder  of  the  troops  were  push- 
ing for  thie  shore,  the  enemy  retreated  to  their  works ; 
and  as  soon  as  the  whole  of  the  troops  had  landed  and 
formed  on  the  clear  ground  intended  for  the  first  land- 
ing, they  advanced  through  a  thick  wood  to  the  open 
ground  near  the  enemy's  works,  and  after  carrying 
one  battery  by  assault,  were  moving  on  in  columns  to- 
wards the  main  works;  when  the  head  of  the  columns 
was  within  about  sixty  rods  of  the  enemy,  a  tremen- 
dous explosion  occurred  from  a  large  magazine  pre- 
pared for  the  purpose,  which  discharged  such  im- 
mense ^antities  of  stone  as  to  produce  a  most  unfor- 
tunate elOfect  on  our  troops.     I  have  not  yet  been  able 
to  collect  the  returns  of  our  killed  and  wounded,  but 
our  loss  by  the  explosion  must,  I  fear,  exceed  one 
hundred ;  and  among  them  I  have  to  lament  the  loss 
of  the  brave  and  excellent  officer  brigadier  general 
Pike,  who  received  such  a  contusion  from  a  large 
stone  as  terminated  his  valuable  life  within  a  few 
hours.     His  loss  will  be  severely  felt.     Previous  i\\ 
the  explosion  the  enemy  had  retired  into  the  town, 
excepting  a  party  of  regular  troops,  whicli  did  not  re- 
tire early  enough  to  avoid  the  shock  ;  it  is  said  that 
upwards  of  forty  of  them  were  destroyed.     General 
Sheaffe  moved  off  with  the  regular  troops  and  left  di- 
rections with  the  commanding  officer  of  the  militia  to 
make  the  best  terms  he  could.     In  the  mean  time,  all 
further  resistance  on  the  part  of  the  enemy  ceased,  and 
the  outlines  of  a  capitulation  were  agreed  on.     As 
soon  as  I  was  informed  of  general  Pike's  being  wound- 
ed, I  went  on  shore.     I  had  been  induced  to  confide 
the  immediate  command  of  the  troops  in  action  to  ge- 
neral Pike  from  a  conviction  that  he  fully  expected  it, 
and  would  be  much  mortified  at  being  deprived  of  th« 
honor,  wliich  lie  highly  appi-eciated.    livery  move- 


» 


con- 
The 
their 
7  or 
msh- 
arks; 
1  and 
and- 


large 


'iv-^.,-.vA;, 


[54,] 


«y 


ment  was  tinder  my  view.    Our  troops  behaved  with, 
great  firmness  and  deserve  much  applause,  especially 
those  who  were  first  engaged,  under  circumstances 
that  would  have  tried  the  firmness  of  veterans.     Our 
loss  in  the  action  in  the  morning  and  in  carrying  the 
first  battery,  was  not  great,  probably  about  50  killed 
and  wounded ;  among  them  were  a  full  proportion  of 
officers ;  and  altiiough  the  enemy  had  a  decided  ad- 
vantage in  point  of  numbers  and  position  at  the  com- 
mencement, their  loss  was  greater  than  oui's^  pariiqUr 
larly  in  officers.  ^'^."L^»  '*  •  -•':/■'  ^'.\'^:::..v ■.,•■!>:':  '■^■^.^■h^ 
^.«  It  was  with  the  greatest  exertion  that  the  small  ves- 
sels of  the  fleet  could  work  into  the  harbor  against  a 
gale  of  wind  directly  ahead ;  but  as  soon  as  they  got 
in  contact  with  the  batteries  a  tremendous  cannonade 
commenced  from  24  and  32  pounders,  and  was  kept 
up  without  intermission  under  a  heavy  fire  from  two 
batteries  until  the  enemy's  batteries  were  carried  or 
blown  up  by  the  explosion,  wiiich  undoubtedly  had  a 
l)owerful  eft'ect  on  the  enemy.  I  am  under  the  greatest 
obligations  to  commodore  Chauncey  for  his  able  and 
indefatigable  exertions  in  every  possible  manner  that 
could  give  facility  and  effiict  to  the  expedition.     He 
is  equally  estimable  for  delilierate,  sound  judgment, 
bravery  and  industry.     The  government  could  not 
have  maile  a  more  fortunate  selection  for  the  impor- 
tant trust  he  holds.  Unfortunately,  the  enemy's  armed 
ship  the  "  Prince  Regent"  left  this  place  for  King- 
ston  four  days  before  we  arrived.     A  large  ship  on 
the  stocks,  and  nearly  planked  up,  with  a\arge  store 
of  naval  stores,  were  set  on  fire  by  the  enemy  soon 
after  the  explosion  of  the  magazine.     There  are  no 
vessels  fit  for  use  in  the  harbor.  A  considerable  quan- 
tity of  military  stores  and  provisions  remained.     We 
shall  not  possess  the  means  of  transporting  the  prison- 
ers  from  this  place,  and  must  of  course  leave  them  on 
parole.     I  hope  we  shall  so  far  complete  the  necessa- 
ry measures  at  this  place  in  the  course  of  this  day  as 
to  be  able  to  sail  to-morrow  for  Niagara,  by  which 


■jf. 


I 


Hi 


I 


■  HW.lJili""' 


';:•«•■ 


!•■■->•?''!. 


'.Q"<|^.^ 


route  I  send  this  by  a  small  vessel,  with  notice  to 
g^eneral  Lewis  of  our  approach.  :c 

r  I  am;  sir>  your  obedient  servant,    r^^-yu^^ 

:^.:      .  rl-,...  H.  DEARBOiiN;^ 

HonorableJohnArmstrong,       /%^^*     *     'r  ' 

••Secretary  of  War.  -^  f^,^:f^';^ /^"■■•^■'^' 

'"^iiiiji   ^  >-'««iv'v\,f.  ■■;.--■,•. 3      ■'  ■      '  ^o'i;* '"■^5.**j;-■• 

,    .;%^;$cy^?  i:,I.:  k-^.,  »BAI>  QUARTERS,  NIAGARA^  " 

'^^^'--i^<r/r  ■'V^^i;i'>-^'.yi:^J^-'>.j'^^  Mojr  3,  1813. 

I  arrived  at  this  place  last  evening  with  com- 
modore Ghauncey  in  his  fast  sailing  schooner,  the 
JLady  of  the  Lake :  we  left  the  fleet  with  the  troops  on 
board  in  York  road.  The  wind  has  been  so  unfavora» . 
ble  as  to  render  it  impracticable  to  come  to  this  place 
with  any  prospect  of  effecting  a  landing.  4, 

I  have  had  a  conference  with  generals  Lewis,  Boyd 
^d  Winder,  at  which  commodore  Chauncey  was  pre- 
sent. I  did  not  find  the  preparations  at  this  place  as 
complete  as  could  have  been  expected ;  but  as  soon  as 
the  wind  will  permit,  we  shall  make  a  descent.  Com- 
modore Chauncey  has  returned  to  the  fleet,  and  will 
sail  for  this  place  as  soon  as  he  shall  judge  the  wind 
favorable  for  crossing  and  landing  the  troops.  In  the 
mean  time  we  shall  be  preparing  to  act  in  concert. 
General  Boyd  will  take  command  of  the  brigade  lately 
commaded  by  general  Pike.  We  find  the  weather 
on  this  lake  at  this  season  of  the  year,  such  as  to 
render  naval  operations  extremely  tedious  and  uncer- 
tain, especially  when  we  have  to  debark  troops  on 
the  shore  of  the  lake,  where  there  are  no  harbors. 
Westerly  winds  are  necessary:  we  have  none  but 
easterly.  I  have  no  doubt  of  ultimate  success,  unles^ 
harrassed  and  dispersed  by  the  elements. 


[94] 


.ff 


I  enclose  a  return  of  the  killed  and  wounded.  Yoa 
will  observe  the  loss  was  very  small  excepting  that 
produced  by  the  explosion.  As  nearly  as  I  have  been 
able  to  ascertain,  the  loss  of  the  enemy  amounted 
from  ninety  to  one  hundred  killied,  two  hundred 
wounded  and  upwards  of  three  hundred  prisonen^i 
I  have  not  been  able  to  ascei'tain  precisely  the  num* 
her  of  the  militia  put  on  their  parole ;  I  presume  it 
could  not  be  less  than  five  hundred.  There  was  an 
immense  depot  of  naval  and  military  stores.  York 
was  the  principal  depot  for  Niagara  and  Detroit;  and 
notwithstanding  the  immense  amount  which  was  de^ 
stroyed  by  them,  we  found  more  than  we  could  bring 
off.  General  Sheafte's  baggage  and  papers  fell  into 
my  hands.  These  papers  are  a  valuable  acquisition': 
I  have  not  had  time  for  a  full  examination  of  them. 
A  scalp  was  found  in  the  executive  and  legislative 
chamber,  suspended  near  the  speaker's  chair,  in  com- 
pany with  the  maqe  and  other  emblems  of  royalty. 
I  intend  sending  it  to  you  with  a  correct  account  of 
Ithe  facts  relative  to  the  place  and  situation  in  which 
it  was  found. 

With  great  respect, 

I  have  the  honor  to  be, 
Sir, 
Your  most  obedient  servant, 
H.  DEARBORN. 


^'i 


*'^ . 


K^ 


■V' 


,1         •    ,  ri,     , 


t.t 


Hon*  John  Armstrong) 
J,  .  5  ^       Secretary  at  War. 


^r:^ 


•Vv 


;|| 


m 


".  ,j     '.,,  HEAD  QUARTERS,  NIAGARA, 

'^-■"-ICL-!.^' -^.^;.     ■;■    ■    .  May  13,  1813. 
SIR,   ^     ^'^   '' 

Commodore  Chauncey  with  the  fleet  and  troops 
arrived  iiere  on  the  evening  of  th«  8th,  and  in  the 


Bf""" 


''i' 


■<.,^ 


30 


';.:£ 


•[Ml 


ICotirse  of  the  htght  the  troops  wert  debarked  iii  a 
t^^ry  sickly  and  depressed  state.     A  large  proportion 
•  of  the  officers  and  men  were  sickly  and  debilitated. 
'iji  was  deemed  expedient  to  give  them  time  to  recruit 
v'riheir  health  and  spirits,  and  in  the  mean  time  for  the 
f|fleet  to  return  to  Sackett's  Harbor,  and  take  on  board 
^pne  thousand  additional  troops; — and  orders  were 
despatched  to  Utica,  Rome  and  Oswego,  to  have  the 
troops  at  those  places  forwarded  here  in  boats  from 
Oswego.     Backus's  corps  of  light  dragoons,  about 
four  hundred,  principally  dismounted,  and  five  hun- 
di'ed  of  the  Hth  regiment  from  Burlington,  have  been 
ordered  to  Sackett's  Harbour.  These,  with  three  hun- 
dred volunteers,  and  a  full  company  of  artillery,  are 
to  form  a  garrison  at  that  place.     Additional  cannon 
will  be  mounted.     General  Brown  of  the  militia  has 
•been  requested  to  hold  three  or  four  huudi*cd  men  of 
the  immediate  vicinity,  in  readiness  to  aid  the  garrison, 
in  the  event  of  any  attack.  ■  My  intention  is  to  collect 
the  main  body  of  the  troops  at  this  place,  and  as  soon 
AS  commodore  Cliauncey  returns,  and  the  forces  from 
Oswego  arrive,  to  commence  operations  in  as  spirited 
and  effectual  a  manner  as  practicable.     This  change 
in  the  proposed  system  of  operations,  has  been  render- 
ved  necessary  by  a  long  scries  of  the  most  unfor- 
tunate winds  and  weather  that  could  have  occurred  at 
this  season,  and  such  as  could  not  have  been  contem- 
plated.^;''"v^:;.     •■"^^    "^t   ■      '    '-  .■».■*    ■  ■   ;.i:. 
Colonel  Scott  reached  this  yesterday  in  boats  from 
Oswego,  with  three  hundred  men.     He  was  seven 
days  wind  bound  in  different  places,  and  nan-ovvly 
escaped  the  loss  of  his  boats  and  men.   %  had  ex- 
pected him  on  the  3d.     I  had  almost  given  him  up 
..  for  lost. 

General  Harrison  is  invested;  and  presuming  on 
the  uncertainty  of  events,  I  shall  make  calculation 
of  a  reinforcement  to  the  enemy  of  British  and  Indi- 
?^ns  from  Detroit.    We  shall  be  prepared  for  them ; 


r'::^'.':v  %■•■'■ 


■■V;  ■'■■;'■.  i « ■ 


[84] 


Ck 


m 


m-' 


aad  I  shall  consider  a  concentration  of  their  force 
rather  as  a  fortunate  circumstance  than  otherwise.  / 
I  observed  in  a  former  letter,  tliat  on  my.  arrival 
here  on  the  evening  of  the  2d,  the  preparations  for  an, 
immediate  co-operation,  were  not  as  complete  as 
could  have  been  expected.  General  Lewis  wa»  at^ 
14  miles  distance.  Winder,  with  his  command,  was 
at  Black  Rock.  The  boats  had  not  been  transported 
from  Schlosser;  not  one  of  the  scows  completed;  the 
heavy  guns  and  mortars  not  placed  in  the  batteries; 
two  18  and  two  IS  pounders  not  mounted;  but  with 
all  these  defects  we  should  have  made  an  attack  on 
the  4th  or  5th,  if  the  fleet  had  arrived  with  the  troops 
in  health,  on  the  3d,  as  was  expected.  „  ;nJ 

.^-     I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,      ''v!^^*!*^^ 

.i^^^.T■v^J*;.A>„:J.,1^v   Most  respectfully,  your    .^'^'\:t4^ 


■;/,i^i  .A« 


•»  ■»,    .<»  ■■t 


,<*'  4-  ■ 


Hon.  John  Arnistrongi 
Secretary  of  War. 


■  1  ■•,': 


Obedient  and  Immble  servant, 

'"'^^i-'^l^in.  DEARBORN. 


^«-  ,iif 


6f 


>.  -A- 


.^!i^ 


■  •it 


HEAD  QUARTERS,  FORT  GEORGE,  UPFER  CANADA. 

May  27,  1813. 


■^y  :-.^ 


IS- 


SIR, 

:'.{ .-',!. .  The  light  troops  under  the  command  of  colonel 
Scott  and  major  Forsyth  landed  this  morning  at  U 
o'clock.  Major  general  Lewis's  division,  with  colonel 
Porter's  command  of  light  artillery,  supported 
tliem.  General  Boyd's  brigade  landed  immediately 
after  the  light  troops,  and  generals  Winder  and  Clian> 
dler  followed  in  quick  succession.  The  landivig  was 
wttrmlyand  obstinately  disputed  by  the  British  forces; 
but  the  coolness  and  intrepidity  of  our  troops  soon 
compelled  them  to  give  ground  in  every  direction. 


M         » 


■•••.. 


it 
'1 


■'l^ll 


a  '{| 


.A 


:':v^ 


ly-  v, 


«"Tr" 


^ 


■'f 


Geniral  Chandler  with  the  resetre  (cbmpldied  of  his 
brigade  and  colonel  Macomb's  artillery)  covered  the 
#hole.  Commodore  Ghauncey  had  made  the  most 
judicious  arrangements  for  silencing  the  enemy's  bat- 
teries near  the  point  of  landing.  The  army  is  under 
the  greatest  obligation  to  that  able  naval  commander, 

44ilbr  his  indefatigable  exei*tions,  in  co-operation  in  all 

its  important  movements,  and  especially  in  its  opera- 

^  tions  this  day.    Our  batteries  succeeded  in  rendering 

/Jort  George  untenable ;  and  when  the  enemy  had  been 

beaten  from  his  position,  and  found  it  necessary  to  re- 

'*    enter  it,  after  finng  a  few  guns,  and  setting  fire  to  the 

magazines,  which  soon  exploded,  moved  off  rapidly 

by  different  routes.    Our  light  troops  pursued  them 

-several  miles.  The  troops  having  been  under  arms 
from  one  o'clock  in  the  morning,  were  too  much  ex- 
hausted for  any  further  pursuit.  We  are  now  in  pos- 
session of  fort  George  and  its  immediate  dependen- 
cies ;  to-morrow  we  shall  proceed  further  on.  The 
behaviour  of  our  troops,  both  officers  and  men,  enti- 
tles them  to  the  highest  praise ;  and  the  difference  in 
our  loss  with  that  of  the  enemy,  when  we  consider 

.  the  advantages  his  positions  afforded  him,  is  astonish* 
ing.  We  had  seventeen  killed  and  forty-five  wound- 
ed. The  enemy  had  ninety  killed  and  one  hundred 
and  sixty  wounded,  of  the  regular  troops.  We  have 
taken  one  hundred  prisoners,  exclusive  of  the  wound* 
wik*<  Colonel  Meyers  of  the  40th,  was  wounded  and 
taken  prisoner.  Of  our's  only  one  commissioned 
Offier  was  killed,  lieutenant  Hobart,  of  the  light  artil- 
lery.    Inclosed  is  the  report  of  major  general  Lewis. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir, 
^>*    -  •  ? ,     With  great  consideration  and  respect,      ? 

Your  most  obedient  servant,  4  ^ 
H.  DEARBORN. 


>rf><,. 


^:¥i- 


nc% 


■<•.!•* 


The  hoii.  John  Armstrong, 

Secretary  of  War. 


\    t 


■■JfSi 


his 
the 
nost 
hot- 
Elder 
der^ 
nail 


i\ 


.r 


vv 


[.M] 


.4  I 


■<■     '" 


'iTx' 


88 


.f 


■■♦  'i 


•>>a'^^?^" 


V  vf'  <  .A*^  >  Ifv^  ,     One  o'clock,  87th  May,  Ibid. 

vy-  Fort  George  and  its  dependencies  are  ours. 
The  enemy,  beaten  at  all  points,  has  blown  up  his 
magaadties  and  retired.  It  is  impossible  at  this  mo- 
ment  to  say  any  thing  of  individual  gallantry.  There 
was  no  man  who  did  not  perform  his  duty  in  a  man- 
ner which  did  honor  to  himself  and  his  country. 
Bcott  and  Forsyth's  commands,  supported  by  Boyd's 
and  Winder's  brigades,  sustained  the  brunt  of  the  ac- 
tion. Our  loss  is  trilling — ^perhaps  not  more  than 
twenty  killed,  and  twice  that  number  wounded.  The 
enemy  left  in  the  hospital  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
four,  and  I  sent  several  on  board  the  fleet.  We  have 
also  made  about  one  hundred  prisoners  of  the  regu- 
lar forces. 

I  am,  doar  sir,  most  respectfully,        ,       ■ 
Your  obedient  servant, 
^  ^       ^  MORGAN  LEWIS. 


:a,j 


Major  Genr  ral  Dearfaorn« 

'^  Commander  in  Chief  of  the  Northern  Army. 


I 


',»' 
■W 


:r 


m 


-5^ 


.  ;  5., 
.1^ 


#';^ 


S' 


HEAD-QUARTERS,  FORT  GEORGE, 


May  %%  ISia. 


SIR, 

General  Lewis  was  ordered  to  march  yesterday 
morning  with  Chandler  and  Winder's  brigades,  the 
light  artillery,  dragoons,  light  infantry  and  riflemen, 
in  pursuit  of  the  enemy  by  the  way  of  Queenstown. 
I  had  received  satisfactory  information  that  the  enemy 
bad  made  a  stand  on  the  mountain,  at  a  place  called 
the  Beaver  Bams,  where  he  had  a  deposit  of  pr©vif. 


:■   t| 


i 


,^  ;  V,- 


•;!| 


W 


X  •  ;    f 


■"'/ 


[54] 


•ions  and  stores,  and  that  he  had  been  joined  by 
three  hundred  regulars  from  Kingston,  landed  from 
small  vessels,  near  the  head  of  the  lake.  I  had  as- 
certained that  he  was  calling  in  the  militia,  and  had 
presumed  that  he  would  confide  in  the  sti*ength  of  his 
position  and  venture  an  action,  by  which  an  opportu- 
nity would  bo  afforded  to  cut  off  hife  retreat. 

I  have  been  disappointed.  Although  the  troops 
from  fort  Erie  and  Chippawa  had  joined  the  main 
body  at  the  Beaver  Dams,  he  broke  up  yesterday  pre- 
cipitately; continued  his  route  along  the  mountain, 
and  will  reach  the  head  of  the  lake  by  that  route. 
Lieutenant  colonel  Preston  took  possession  of  fort 
Krie  and  its  dependencies  last  evening,  The  fort 
)iad  been  abandoned  and  the  magazines  blown  up. 
I  have  ordered  general  Lewis  to  return  without  de- 
lay to  this  place,  and  if  the  w  inds  favor  us,  we  may 
yet  cut  off  the  enemy's  retreat  at  York :  but  unfortu- 
nately we  have  plenty  of  rain  but  no  wind ;  it  may, 
however,  change  for  the  better  in  a  few  hours.  I  shall 
afford  commodore  Chauncey  every  facility  in  my 
power  in  his  preparations  for  commanding  lake  Erie. 
He  is  very  anxious  to  return  to  Sackett's  Harbor;  for 
until  his  other  ship  is  fitted,  it  is  not  certain  thai  he 
can  (Hmtinne  in  the  command  of  lake  Ontario,  I  was 
the  last  evening  honored  with  your  despatches  of  the 
10th  instant.  I  have  taken  measures  in  relation  to 
the  twenty-three  prisoners  who  are  to  be  put  in  close 
confinement. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  "* 

With  high  consideration  and  respect, 

'  -^  Your  most  obedient  servant, 

H.  DEARBORN, 


Hon.  General  John  Armstrong, 
S^retary  of  War. 


■v..;./'  T  -$'-t 


m 


v  ■' ■ 


from 

1  M- 

bftil 
»f  his 
ortu- 


'i  , 


[54] 


Hxtrojct  nf  a  letter  from  Major  General  Dearborn 
to  the  Secretary  at  War,  dated 


;v-'..^; 


NEWARK;  UPPEH  CANADA, 

''  #    '''"  *'  June  4,  1818, 

**  Chandler  and  Winder  are  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy 
wlio  has  halted  about  flfty-ftve  miles  from  here.  I 
am  still  very  feeble  and  gain  strength  but  slowly." 


»■/ 


*»; 


li&AD  QUARTERS,  FORT  GEORGE, 

*  June  6,  1818. 

SIR, 

I  have  received  an  express  from  the  head  of 
the  lakfs  this  evening,  with  the  intelligence  that  our 
troops  were  attacked  at  two  o'clock  this  morning,  by 
the  whole  British  force  and  Indians,  and  by  some 
strange  fatality,  though  our  losci  in  numbers  was 
small,  and  ths  enemy  was  completely  routed  and 
driven  from  the  field,  both  brigadier  generals  Chand- 
ler and  Winder  were  taken  prisoners.  They  had 
advanced  to  ascertain  the  situation  of  a  company  of 
artillery,  where  the  attack  commenced.  General 
Chandler  had  his  horse  shot  under  him  and  was 
bruised  by  the  fall.  General  Vincent,  their  com- 
mander, is  supposed  to  have  been  killed.  Colonel 
Clark  was  mortally  wounded  and  fell  into  our  hands, 
with  sixty  prisoners  of  the  4>9th.  The  command  de> 
volved  on  colonel  Burn,  who  has  retii-ed  to  the  Forty- 
mile  Creek.  If  either  of  the  general  officers  had  re- 
mained in  command,  the  eneniiy  would  have  beei^ 
pursued  and  cut  up;  or,  if  colonel  Burn  had  been  an 
officer  of  infantry.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed, 
wounded  and  prisoners,  must  exceed  two  hundred 
and  fifty.  The  enemy  sent  in  a  fiag  next  morning, 
with  a  request  to  bury  their  dead.  Generals  Lewis 
and  Boyd  set  off  immediately  to  join  the  advanced 


ti 


,■;> 


'fl 


w 


[»*] 


army.  I  never  §o  eevercly  felt  tlic  want  of  health  as 
at  present,  at  a  time  when  my  Hcrvices  m\^\\U  per- 
haps, be  most  useful.  I  hope  general  Hampton  will 
repair  here  as  soon  as  possible.   ^     —     r. 

With  threat  respect, 
*''•;  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir, 

'  Your  most  obedient  servant, 

H.  DEAllBOHN. 

Hon.  General  John  Armstrong,  ^        '      •         .   ""  ' 

Secretary  of  War.  ^ 

June  8,  1813. 

There  was  a  mistake  in  the  arrival  of  the  express 
mall.  Since  writing  the  abov*  iie  enemy's  fleet  has 
passed,  consisting  of  two  lar&;e  ships  and  four  heavy 
schooners.  I  have  consequently  deemed  it  prudent 
to  concentrate  the  forces  at  this  point. 

H.  D. 


•        ;.  UEAD  qUABTBRSj  FORT  GEORGE, 

^  V  '         Junes,  1813. 

SIR, 

I  have  been  honored  with  your  letters  of  the 
26th  and  S7th  ult.  and  a  duplicate  of  one  of  the  19th 
of  April.  My  ill  state  of  health  renders  it  extremely 
painful  to  attend  to  the  current  duties ;  and  unless  my 
health  improves  soon,  I  fear  I  shall  be  compelled  to 
retire  to  some  place,  where  my  mind  may  be  more  at 
ease,  for  a  short  time.  Colonel  Macomb  proceeded 
with  two  hundred  men,  with  tlie  commodore,  to  Sack- 
ett's  Harbor.  Lieutenant  colonel  Ripley  has  also 
gone,  by  the  way  of  Oswego,  to  the  Harbor,  with  his 
regiment,  where  he  will  be  joined  by  several  hundred 
recruits.  He  took  charge  of  the  provisions  to  Oswego. 
The  commodore  will  uot  probably  ventiwe  out  until 


w 


ijr*^ 


[84] 


W 


luH  new  Mliip  Is  fit  for  sea.  The  enemy  hoa  now  the 
commaiul  ui'  the  lake,  and  as  long  as  that  is  the  case, 
any  otfenNive  operations  below  this  must  be  suspend- 
ed. (  had  intended  placing  a  small  garrison  at  fort 
Erie,  mid  a  stronger  one  at  fort  George ;  but  as  you 
have  directed  otherwise,  I  shall  select  fort  George  an 

f;iiarding  the  only  harbor  on  the  southern  shore  of  the 
ake.     Ueti  jit  will  he  the  safest  harbor  on  lake  Erie. 
I  have,  by  the  request  of  commodore  Chauncey,  de- 
tached SOO  men  to  aid  captain  Perry  in  removing  his 
armed   vessels  from  Black  Rock  to  Presque  isle. 
Commodore  Ghauncey  is  unwilling  to  approach  Mai- 
den, unless  he  can  have  a  reinforcement  to  general 
HaiTison,  of  our  regulars.     As  my  command  does  not 
extend  to  Maiden,  I  ask  your  directions  on  this  sub- 
ject.    The  commodore  is  anxious  that  his  fleet  on  lake 
Erie  should  proceed  with  troops  to  Michilimaciiiac 
and  St.  Joseph,  as  soon  as  the  ousiuess  shall  be  de- 
cided at  Detroit.     On  taking  possession  of  this  place, 
the  inhabitants  came  in,  in  numbers,  and  gave  their 
paroles.     I  have  promised  them  protection.     A  large 
majority  are  friendly  to  the  United  States,  and  fixed 
in  their  hatred  against  the  government  of  Great  Bri- 
tain.    If  they  should  generally  be  made  prisoners  of 
war,  and  taken  from  their  families,  it  would  have  a 
most  unfavorable  effect  on  our  military  operations 
in  the  provinces.    The  whole  country  would  be  driven 
to  a  state  of  desperation,  and  satisfy  them,  beyond  a 
doubt,  that  we  had  no  intention  of  holding  tlie  pro- 
vinces.    The  same  effect  would  be  produced  on  the 
Indians,  who  are  now  principally  quiet,  for  fear  of 
losing  their  valuable  tract  of  land  on  Grand  river.     1 
had  authorized  the  civil  magistrates  to  combine  in  the 
due  exercise  of  their  functions,  and  cannot,  with  pro- 
priety, revoke  this  authority,  unless  specially  direct- 
ed. 

The  whole  of  our  troops,  officers  and  men,  in  the 
action  of  the  S7th,  discovered  a  degree  of  ardor  and 
readiness  for  action^  which  evinced  a  determination 


■  t' 


.!:• 


i'. 


I'     .  ] 

'■(,'■ 


m 


Sf.il 


•w:a 


^9^ 


m 


tD  do  bonor  to  themselves  and  country.  The  auima- 
tine  example  set  by  colonel  Scott  and  general  Boyd, 
in  landing  and  repulsing  the  enemy,  deserves  parti, 
calar  mention.  I  am  greatly  indebted  to  colonel  Por- 
ter, major  Armistead  and  captain  Totten,  for  their 
judicious  arrangements  and  skilful  execution  in  de> 
molishing  the  enemy's  fort  and  batteries,  and  to  the 
•fficers  of  the  artillery  generally,  who  had  the  direc- 
lioD  of  the  guns.  rj    v    ; 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  .    ^ 

^  ^  With  great  respect, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 
H.  DEARBORN. 


^<m.  General  John  Armstrong, 
Secretary  of  War. 


'<}*.■>•,:     ',' 


i$^-K> 


S^xtract  of  a  letter  from  Major  General  Morgau 
Lewis,  to  ike  Secretary  of  War,  dated    j^i  ; 

V,     ,  NIAGARA,  June  14,  1813. 

**  Yo!i  will  perceive  by  the  enclosed  copy  of 
orders,  marked  1,  that  general  Dearborn  from  indis- 
position, has  resigned  the  command,  not  only  of  the 
Niagara  army,  but  of  the  district.  I  have  doubts 
whether  he  will  ever  again  be  fit  for  service.  He  has 
been  repeatedly  in  a  state  of  convalescence ;  but  re- 
lapses on  the  least  agitation  of  mind.     ,  . :,  ^   ^  ^    ^ 

'^  In  my  last,  I  mentioned  the  unfortunate  circum- 
stance  of  the  capture  of  our  two  brigadiers.  Chandler 
and  Winder.  The  particulars  are  detailed  in  the  re- 
port of  colonel  Burns,  marked  2,  which  he  gives 
from  the  best  information  he  could  collect.  His 
corps  lay  a  considerable  distance  from  the  scene  of 
active  operation,  as  you  will  perceive  by  the  enclosed 
diagram.  The  light  corps  spoken  of,  were  captain 
Hindinan*s.  Nicholas's  and  Biddle*s  comnanics  of 


•j|  f  :h 


^'JS^.' 


't^ 


iM^'i^ 


\\ti 


'■f^^r- 


'.  Tr.i 


19*1 


M 


the  Sd  artillery,  serving  as  infantry.    These  three 
gentlemen,  and  captain  Archer  and  Towson  of  the 
same  regiment,  and  Leonard  of  the  light  artillery,  are 
soldiers  who  would  honor  any  service.    Their  gal- 
lantry, and  that  of  their  companies,  was  equally  con^ 
spicuous  on  this  occasion,  as  in  the  affair  of  the  S7th 
ult.     A  view  of  general  Chandler's  encampment  will 
be  sufficient  to  show,  that  his  disaster  was  owing  tb 
its  arrangement :  its  centre  being  its  weakest  pomt, 
and  that  being  discovered  by  the  enemy  in  the  even- 
ing, received  the  combined  attack  of  his  whole  force, 
and  his  line  was  completely  cut.     It  is  said,  though  I 
«;annot  vouch  for  its  truth,  that  general  Winder  saw 
this,  and  remonstrated  against  it.    The  gallantry  of 
the  5th,  S5th  and  part  of  the  S3d  and  liglit  troops, 
saved  the  army :  of  the  5th,  it  is  said,  that  wlieu  the 
day  broke,  not  a  man  was  missing;  and  that  a  part  of 
the  S3d,  under  major  Armstrong,  was  found  sustain- 
ing its  left  flank.    Their  fire  was  irresistible,  and 
the  enemy  was  compelled  to  give  way.  Could  he  have 
been  pressed  the  next  mornings  his  destruction  was 
inevitable.  He  was  dispersed  in  every  direction,  and 
even  his  commanding  general  was  missing  without 
his  hat  or  horse.   I  understand  he  was  found  the  next 
evening  almost  famished,  at  a  distance  of  four  miles 
from  the  scene  of  action. 

"  Lieutenant  M^Chesney's  gallantry  recovered  a 
piece  of  artillery  and  prevented  the  capture  of  others. 
He  merits  promotion  for  it. 

"  On  the  evening  of  the  6th  of  June,  I  received  the 
order.  No.  %  and  joined  the  army  at  five  in  the  after- 
noon of  the  7th.  I  found  it  at  the  Forty-mile  Greeks 
ten  miles  in  the  rear  of  the  ground,  on  which  il  had 
been  attacked,  encamped  on  a  plain,  of  about  a  mile 
in  width,  with  its  right  flank  on  the  lake,  and  its  left 
on  the  creek,  which  skirts  the  base  of  a  perpendicular 
mountain  of  considerable  height.  On  my  route,  jl 
received  No.  ^  and  6,  enclosed'. 


m 


W'4 


'•:  i»l 


■■t^^'^T^^" 


"-•9^:' 


v-^.i-  •• 


[54] 


>  "  At  6  in  the  evening  the  hostile  fleet  hove  in  sight, 
though  its  character  could  not  be  ascertained  with  pre. 
cision.  We  lay  on  our  arms  all  night.  At  dawn  of 
day  struck  our  tents,  and  descried  the  hostile  squad - 
i*on  abreast  of  us  about  a  mile  from  the  shore.  Our 
boats  which  transported  the  principal  part  of  our  bag- 
gage and  camp  equipage,  lay  on  the  beach ;  it  was  a 
dead  calm ;  and  about  six,  the  enemy  towed  in  a  large 
schooner,  which  opened  her  fire  on  our  boats.  As  soon 
as  she  stood  for  the  shore,  her  object  being  evident,  I 
ordered  down  Archer's  and  Towson's  companies  with 
four  pieces  of  artillery,  to  resist  her  attempts.  I  at 
the  same  time  sent  captain  Totten,  of  the  engineers, 
(a  most  valuable  officer)  to  construct  a  temporary  fur- 
nace for  heating  shot,  which  was  prepared  and  in  ope- 
ration in  less  than  thirty  minutes.  Her  fire  was  re- 
turned with  a  vivacity  and  effect  (excelled  by  no  ar- 
tillery in  the  universe)  which  soon  compelled  her  to 
retire.  A  party  of  savages  now  made  their  appear- 
ance on  the  brow  of  the  mountain  f  which  lieing  per- 
fectly bald,  exhibited  them  to  view)  and  commenced 
a  fire  on  our  camp.  I  ordered  colonel  Chrystie  to 
dislodge  them,  Mho  entered  on  the  service  with  ala- 
crity, but  found  himself  anticipated  by  lieutenant  El- 
dridge,  the  adjutant  of  the  resiment,  who,  with  a 
promptness  and  gallantry  highly  honorable  to  that 
young  officer,  had  already  gained  the  summit  of  the 
mountain,  with  a  party  of  volunteers,  and  routed  the 
Barbarian  allies  of  the  defender  of  the  Christian  faith. 
This  young  man  merits  the  notice  of  government. 

*^  These  little  affairs  cost  us  not  a  man.  Sir  James 
L.  Yeo  being  disappointed  of  a  tragedy,  next  deter- 
mined, in  true  dramatic  style,  to  amuse  us  with  a 
farce.  An  officer  with  a  flag  was  sent  to  me  from  his 
ship,  advising  me,  that  as  I  was  invested  with  savages 
in  my  rear,  a  fleet  in  my  front,  and  a  powerful  army 
^on  ^my  flank,  he,  and  the  officers  commanding  his  Bri- 
tannic majesty's  land  forces,  thought  it  a  duty  to  de- 


\\i^ 


mand  a  gurfender  of  my  army,    f  answered  that  the 


'-4^^('::,"f'm 


fk'n^ 


**, 


^^"^•^ 


Ifc'- 


''^^^''^^r^t-M. 


message  %as  too  ridiciilous  to  merit  A  r^^ply.  No.  7 
was  delivered  to  me  at  about  6  this  morning.  Between 
7  and  8  o'clock,  the  few  waggons  we  had  being  load- 
ed, first  with  sick,  and  next  with  ammunition,  lie,  t])6 
residue  of  camp  equipage  and  baggage  was  put  in  the 
boats,  and  a  detachment  of  two  hundred  men  of  the  6th 
regiment  detailed  to  proceed  in  them^  Orders  lyere 
prepared  to.be  given  them  to  defend  the  boats,  and  if 
assailed  by  any  of  the  enemy's  small  vessels,  to  carry 
them  by  boarding.  By  some  irregularity,  which  I 
have  not  been  able  to  discover,  the  boats  put  off  with- 
out the  detachments,  induced  probably  by  the  stillness 
of  the  morning.  When  they  had  progressed  about 
three  miles,  a  breeze  sprung  up,  and  an  armed  schoon- 
er  overhauled  them.  Those  who  were  enterprising 
kept  on  and  escaped ;  others  ran  to  the  shore  and  de- 
serted  their  boats.  We  lost  twelve  of  the  niiraberj^ 
principally  containing  the  baggage  of  the  officers  And 
men.  -'        '  ■  -^v w,t'^'^fe#, 

m  '^  At  ten  I  put  the  army  in  motion  on  our  return  to 
this  place.  The  savages  and  incorporated  militia 
hung  on  our  flanks  and  rear  throughout  the  march, 
and  picked  up  a  few  stragglers.  On  our  retiring  the 
British  army  advanced,  and  now  occupies  the  ground 
we  left."  , 


»'.  >^ 


'■^4/- 


l^Papers  referred  to  by  General  Lewis. 


d 


-nJ'- 


<i:^^l 


■^.' 


,     HEAD  QUARTERS,  NIAGARA, 

June  6,  1813. 

DEAR  GENERAL,      '  •■•..•'•      .-     ''.•■^^-;  .  "   ^   ^ 

i*  •'*.  You  will  please  to  proceed,  with  as  little  delay 
as  may  be,  and  take  command  of  the  advanced  army, 
l^rigadier  generals  Boyd  and  Swartwout,  and  colonel 
Scott,  will  accompany  you.  I  have  ordered  an  addi' 
tional  escort  of  light  artillery  to  be  equipped  as  csvftl- 

6 


'y  HI 


I  • 


fil 

rt        'I 


W- 


•■    ■'■f^M 


M 


i  -vi 


|ry  to  attend  you.  You  will  attack  the  enemy  as  soon. 
ss  practicable ;  your  force  will  ensure  success ;  every 
possible  effort  should  be  made  for  preventing  the  ene- 
my's escape. 

4^  May  success  and  glory  attend  you.     ;*     u^r";^ 

,  f;  Yours  with  esteem,  \; 

i««jor  General  Lewis.^t:  'm'^^'-.^^^-^:;'     ■■  -  .,-^- 


:<■;-'■     NIAGARA,  June  6,  181lf^_ 

DEAll  GENERAL, 

A  ship  having  appeared  this  morning  steering: 
towards  the  head  of  the  lake,  which  is  undoubtedly 
one  of  the  enemy's  ships ;  others  are  appearing;  you 
will  please  to  return  with  the  troops  to  this  nlace  as 


soon  as 


if.i!t-#.4^ 


%?? 


Yours  with  esteem, 

i^^   H.  DEARBORN. 


P.  S>.  The  object  of  the  enemy's  fleet  must  be  in- 
tended to  cover  the  retreat  of  tlieir  troops  or  to  bring 
on  a  reinforcement. 

Major  General  Lewis.  J; 


X-'- 


7  ^^v.;--"   /:■'        ■: :/  June6,'1813.  •, 

V.  It  is  possible  the  fleet  in  sight  may  be  our  own ;  a 
few  hours  will  probably  enable  you  to  determine  and 
nctjiwordingly.  .     . 

s  H.  DEARBORN 

General  Lewis.   "'^^;^i^^'  .: 


» 


v^^' 


■4- 


r 


r^mi^ 


18 


DEAR  "^ENiRAl^ 

^^  ■■  ^^^  induced  to  suspect  that  the  enemy's  flm 
nave  an  intention  on  this  place.  Two  sni^ll  schooib- 
crs  have  been  examining  the  shore  very  minutely  fot 
three  or  four  hour's  this  aftenioon.  They  have  gone 
on  towards  the  head  of  the  lake,  and  their  ships  ap- 
pear  to  have  taken  the  fiame  course ;  they  may  take 
on  board  additional  troops  near  the  head  of  the  lake 
and  be  here  before  you  reach  this  place.    Vou  will 

S lease  to  send  Milton's  detachment  and  500  of  Chan- 
ler's  brigade,  and  colonel  Burn's  light  dragoons  wi^ 
all  possible  despatch ;  they  ought,  if  possible,  to  be 
here  some  time  to-morrow  forenoon.  You  wiU  follow 
with  the  remainder  of  the  troops  as  soon  as  practica- 
bly. It  will  be  necessary  to  take  care  that  your  boats 
are  hot  taken  or  lost.  General  Swartwout  and  colO'- 
nel  Scott  should  return  as  soon  as  tliey  can. 

Yours  with  esteem,     ^.  ^^^  -^.^,1  ^,^^ 

H.  DEABBOBN.  ^ 


.'«^;f 


f:^4'"mf. 


General  Lewis. 


-■  'i^.' 


'.V'^^*\'l^ 


•,)... 


i-*t-  !'.-j'tii:»«;.' 


ri. 


^:M^^S- 


5y 


>» 


ORDERS. 

ADJUTANT  general's   OFFICE,    . 
HEAD  QUARTERS,  PORT  GEORGE,  u*;4 

June  10,  1813.       '  i? 

By  reason  of  the  temporary  indisposition  of 
major  general  Dearborn,  the  command  of  the  troops 
on  this  frontier  and  of  the  ninth  military  department  of 
the  United  States,  devolves  on  major  general  Lewis. 
All  persons  concerned  are  notified  accordingly. 

By  command, 

':C':^.:■■^:,         .  ■    W.  SCOTT, 

%.■    r         '  \  a$djutant  Gemral, 


■■\'  /- 


!  i, 


If.  .■. 


^-::vT  ;-y;-w      _g^-..     ,- 


«    '      V"         i-'t; 


.,*.      '*'■"*/ 


':'-M^'r^^  ■  'ES4|. 


:^-  •■ 


JExtradt  of  a  letter  from  Colonel  James  BurHf  %i 
light  dragoons^  to  Major  General  Dearborn, 

^<  In  the  afternoon  of  the  5th  our  advance-guard, 
consisting  of  the  light  infantry,  under  the  command 
of  captains  Hindman,  Biddle  and  Nicholas,  a  part  of 
Uie  r^e  corps  under  captain  Lytle,  and  a  detach- 
ment  of  the  3d  dragoons  under  captain  Selden,  com- 
Inenced  a  sharp  skirmish  with  the  advance  of  the 
enemy,  said  to  be  a  detachment  of  the  49th  regiment, 
>yhich  soon  retreated,  covered  by  a  thick  woods,  hav- 
ing, however,  several  wounded  on  both  sides,  and 
one  dragoon  horse  killed.  In  the  evening  our  ad- 
vance returned  behind  Stony  Creek,  where  tiie  army 
took  a  position  for  the  night.  The  light  infantry,  and 
part  of  the  rifle  corps  on  the  right  of  the  Iddth  regi. 
ment,  formed  the  right  wing.  The  artillery,  under 
captains  Towson  and  L.  Leonard,  the  centre.  The 
dth,  l6th,  S3d,  and  some  riflemen,  the  left  wing,  and 
the  cavalry  in  the  rear.  A  strong  picket  guard  was 
posted  some  distance  in  front,  also  strong  flank  and 
rear  guards  in  such  manner  as  to  surround  the  whole 
encampment  with  centinels — the  troops  lay  under 
arms  without  any  coveiirg.  Our  numbers  in  the 
field  did  not  exceed  one  thousand.  Three  hundred 
effectives  of  the  13th  and  i4th  regiments  having  en- 
camped on  the  bordei's  of  the  lake,  about  three  miles 
dietant,  for  the  prutaction  of  the  boats.  The  enemy 
forced  our  picket  and  attacked  us  about  two  o'clock 
in  the  morning  (which  was  very  dark)  with  their 
army  and  Indians,  expecting,  no  doubt,  to  throw  us 
into  confusion.  Their  views  were,  in  this  instance 
however,  completely  frustrated,  and  w  hen  the  day 
dawned,  none  were  to  be  seen  except  their  killed  and 
wounded,  who  covered  the  field  of  battle.  The  at- 
tack began  on  our  right,  and  was  gallantly  repelled 
by  the  fire  of  the  light  troops  and  25th  regiment,  com- 
manded by  major  Smith.    In  a  few  minutes  it  became 


4f 


general  along  the  whole  line,  antd  was  nohly  returned 
by  tlic  artillery  of  the  centre,  commanded  by  ca|^taiM 
lowsou  and  L.  Tieonard,  and  again  by  the  troops  of 
the  left  wing,  viz.  th'>  dth,  under  lieutenant  colonel 
Milton,  the  S8d,  commanded  by  major  Armstrong, 
and  the  16th.  The  tJre  continued  with  little  inter- 
mission for  one  hour,  during  which  time  the  enemy 
attempted,  by  fi'ecjuent  cliargcs,  to  break  our  line,  but 
witliout  eflcct,  beinc;  oblij!;ed  to  give  way  by  the  weH 
directed  iirc  of  our  brav  e  troops, 
f  The  13th  and  14fth  regiments  (which  had  been  de- 
tached  the  prer  hiding  evening)  were  active  in  making 
prisoners,  and  advanced  with  much  ardor  to  tlie  field 
i^n  hopes  of  sharing  with  the  gallant  dih  and  2dth, 
S3d  and  light  troops,  the  glory  of  another  combat. 
But  the  unfortunate  capture  of  brigadier  generals 
Chandler  and  Winder,  who  were  taken  in  the  action 
unknown  to  any  part  of  the  army  and  hurried  into  the 
enemy's  lines,  prevented  the  future  operations  from 
being  carried  into  effect  with  the  promptitude  which 
would  assuredly  have  taken  place  had  either  of  those 
officers  been  present  to  command. 

You  Mill  be  surprised  to  find  our  loss  so  small — 
that  of  the  enemy  exceeds  ours  much ;  they  lost  in 
killed  about  sixty,  many  wounded,  and  upwards  of 
seventy  prisoners,  all  regulars  and  principally  of  the 
49th  regiment.  Several  of  their  officers  w  ere  killed^ 
wounded  and  missing.  A  flag  was  sent  by  colonel 
Hervey,  asking  permission  to  make  inquiries  for 
them ;  also  to  be  allowed  to  send  a  surgeon  to  attend 
their  own  wounded,  which  I  readily  granted.  On 
the  return  of  day-light  I  found  the  command  of  the 
army  had  devolved  on  me,  and  being  at  a  loss  what 
steps  to  pursue  in  the  unpleasant  dilemma,  occasioned 
by  the  capture  of  our  generals :  finding  the  ammu- 
nition of  many  of  the  troops  nearly  expended,  I  had 
recourse  to  a  council  of  the  field  officers  present,  of 
whom  a  majority  coincided  in  opinion  witli  me  that 
we  ought  to  retire  to  our  former  position  at  the  Foriy- 


1 


'f> 


u 


% 


«i. 


45 


[54] 


ittiile  Greek,  'where  vre  could  be  supplied  with  am- 
munition  and  provisions,  and  either  advance  or  re- 
main until  further,  orders. 

Every  aid  was  aiforded  by  the  staff.  The  assistant 
adjutant  general  major  Johnson,  and  brigade  majors 
Jones  and  Wartenby  exerted  themselves  in  render- 
Uigall  the  assistance  in  their  power. 

The  army  on  this  occasion  has  proved  its  firmness 
and  bravery,  by  keeping  its  position  in  a  night  at- 
tack, in  which  the  yells  of  the  Indians  mingled  with 
the  roaring  of  cannon  and  musketry  were  calculated 
to  intimidate.  The  enemy  charged  repeatedly,  and 
80  dark  was  the  night  that  our  army  could  not  dis- 
iingaish  friend  from  foe;  in  one  of  those  they  suc- 
ceeded in  carrying  off  a  six-pounder,  a  howitzer  and 
a  caisson,  to  the  j^reat  mortification  of  our  brave  ar- 
tillery. I  presume  it  was  on  that  occasion  also  that 
we  lost  our  generals,  who  were  distinctly  heard  en- 
couraging our  men  to  fight.  The  squadron  of  dra- 
goons  remained  foruied  and  steady  at  their  post,  but' 
could  not  act  on  account  of  the  darkness  of  the  night 
and  the  thickness  of  the  adjacent  woods.  Much  cre- 
dit is  due  to  the  troops  generally,  but  too  much  praise 
cannot  be  said  of  the  conduct  of  the  5th  and  <^th 
regiments," 


— tp» 


l^r,      ..^. 


..r  > 


MONTREAL,  Juuc  18,  1313,  ;., 


StRT, 

I  deem  it  my  duty  to  improve  the  c&rllest  op 
portunity  possible,  to  give  you  a  more  detailed  account 
of  the  affair  of  the  6th  instant,  near  Stony  creek,  than 
I  have  before  had  it  in  my  power  to  do. 

On  the  morning  of  the  5th  I  arrived  at  Forty-mile 
Creek.  The  detachment  under  general  Winder  was 
then  under  marching  wders  for  Stony  creek.    After 


P>    k 


H5^' 


./■rv 


\ 


t^ 


HT 


ft  short  halt  the  ivhole  mftrched  for  that  place,  and  ar- 
rived there  between  five  and  six  o'clock  P.  M.  at 
which  place  a  small  picket  of  the  enemy  was  posted^ 
hut  retired  on  our  "^  proach.  The  advanced  guard 
pursued,  and  soon  fell  in  with  a  picket  of  about  100 
strong,  under  colonel  Williams.  A  skirmish  ensued. 
I  hastened  the  main  body.  Williams  retreated,  and 
our  advance  pursued.  The  pursuit  was  continued 
rather  longer  than  I  could  have  wished,  but  returned 
to  their  proper  position  in  the  line  of  march,  not  far 
from  sun  set.  I  had  ordered  the  13th  and  14th,  who 
were  in  the  rear,  to  take  a  position  for  the  night  near 
the  mouth  of  the  creek,  to  cover  the  boats,  (should  they 
arrive)  which  would  be  on  the  route  which  I  intended 
to  pursue  the  next  morning,  and  a  fa\x)rabie  position 
presenting  itself,  I  encamped  with  the  residue  of  the 
troops  (except  captain  Archer's  tximpany  of  artillery, 
which  accompanied  the  13th  and  14th  on  the  spot 
where  we  had  halted,  with  an  advanced  picket  from 
half  to  three  quarters  of  a  mile  in  front,  with  express 
orders  for  them  to  keep  out  constantly  a  patrole.  A 
right  and  left  ilank  guard  and  a  rear  guard  were  also 
posted.  I  gave  positive  orders  for  the  troops  to  lay 
on  their  arms.  Contrary  to  my  orders  iires  were 
kindled ;  but  there  are  doubts  whether  this  operated 
for  or  against  us,  as  the  fires  of  the  25th,  which  were 
in  front,  and  by  my  orders  had  been  abandoned,  ena, 
bled  to  see  a  small  part  of  the  enemy,  while  tlie  fires 
on  our  left  enabled  the  enemy  to  see  our  line.  On  the 
whole,  I  think  it  operated  against  us.  I  did  expect 
the  enemy  would  attack  us  that  night,  if  he  intended 
to  fight ;  but  perhaps  this  was  not  expected  by  all.  I 
had  my  horse  confined  near  me,  and  directed  that  the 
harness  should  not  be  taken  from  the  artilisry  horses, 
I  directed  where  and  how  the  line  should  be  formed, 
iu  case  of  attack.  About  an  hour  before  day  light,  on 
the  morning  of  the  6th,  the  alarm  was  given.  I  w  as 
instantly  up,  and  the  85th,  which  lay  near  me,  was 
almost  as  instantly  formed,  as  well  as  the  5th  and 


i- 


m 


x^ 


'ii 


;,H 


m 


J*   « 


*  • 


v.'^ 


48 


••*<. 


M 


•.^' 


S8d,  which  wai^bti  the  left^  under  the  immeiiiate  eyo 
of  seneml  Winder.  Owing  ia  the  negh'xt  of  the  front 
picKet,  01*  some  other  cause,  the  Dritish  officers  say, 
that  they  were  not  hailed,  or  an  alarm  given,  until  they 
were  within  three  hundred  yards  of  our  line.  The 
extreme  darkness  prevented  us  from  seeing  or  knowing 
ti  what  point  tlicy  intended  to  attack  us,  until  an  at- 
tack was  made  on  our  right.  A  well  directed  fire  was 
6pened  upon  them  from  the  23th  and  from  nearly  the 
whole  line.  After  a  few  minutes  I  heard  several 
muskets  in  our  rear,  in  the  direction  of  the  rear  guard, 
and  then  expected  that  the  enemy  had  gained  our 
rear  by  some  path  unknown  to  me,  and  were  about 
to  attack  us  in  rear.  I  instantly  ordered  colonel 
Milton,  with  the  dth,  to  form  in  our  rear  near  the 
woods,  to  meet  such  circumstances  as  might  take 
place,  knowing  that  I  could  call  him  to  any  other 
point,  if  necessary,  at  any  moment.  I  had  ohservedy 
that  the  artillery  was  not  covered,  and  directed  gens- 
ral  Winder  to  cause  the  S3d  to  be  formed  so  far  to  the 
right,  that  their  right  should  cover  the  artillery.  At 
this  moment  I  heard  a  new  burst  of  fire  from  the  ene- 
my's left  on  our  right,  and  not  able  to  see  any  thing 
which  took  place,  I  set  out  full  speed  towards  the 
right,  to  take  measures  to  pravent  my  right  flank  from 
being  turned,  which  I  expected  was  the  object  of  the 
enemy.  I  had  proceeded  but  a  few  yards,  before  my 
horse  fell  under  me,  by  which  fall  I  received  a  serious 
injury.  Here  was  a  time  when  I  have  no  recollection 
of  what  passed,  but  I  presume  it  was  not  long.  As 
•oon  as  I  recovered,  I  recollected  what  my  olyect  was, 
and  made  my  way  to  the  right,  and  gave  major  Smith 
such  directions  as  I  thought  proper,  to  prevent  his 
right  from  being  turned  by  surprise.  1  was  then  re- 
turning toward  the  centre,  and  when  near  the  artille- 
ry, heard  men,  who,  by  the  noise,  appeared  to  be  in 
confusion,  it  being  the  point  at  which  I  expected  the 
S3d  to  be  formed.  I  expected  it  was  that  regiment.  I 
approached  them,  and  a:^  soon  as  I  was  near  enough; 


■  w 

■•^c'^ 


"!« 


Cm] 


•f'"-    iff 


49 


I  saw  a1)ody  of  men,  who  I  thouglit  to  be  We  Ssd,  iii 
rear  of  the  artillery,  broken.    1  hobbled  in  amongst 
them,  and  began  to  rally  them,  and  directed  them  to 
form ;  but  I  soon  found  my  mistake ;  it  was  the  Bri- 
tish 49th,  who  had  pushed  forward  to  the  head  of 
their  column  and  gaiued  the  rear  of  the  artillery.    I 
was  immediately  disarmed  and  conveyed  down  the 
column  to  its  rear.     It  was  not  yet  day,  and  the  ex- 
treme darkness  of  the  night,  vo  which  was  added  the 
smoke  of  the  fire,  put  it  totally  out  of  our  power  to  see 
the  situation  of  the  enemy.    This  was  all  that  saved 
their  columns  fi*om  sure  and  total  destruction,  of  which 
some  of  their  officers  ai*e  awnre.     Af^er  seeing  the  si- 
tuation of  the  column  as  I  passed,  1  did  hope  and  ex- 
pect that  general  Winder,  on  the  first  dawn  of  light, 
would  see  their  situation,  and  bring  colonel  Milton 
with  the  5th,  (who  I  had  still  kept  in  reserve  until  I 
could  have  day-light  to  discern  their  situation)  to  at- 
tack this  column,  which,  I  am  sure,  he  would  have 
dune  to  advantage ;  but,  to  my  mortification,  I  soon 
learned  that  he  had  fallen  into  the  same  mistake  with 
myself;  and  by  endeavoring  to  learn  what  was  taking 
place  in  the  centre,  he  was  also  taken,  as  well  as  ma- 
jor Van  De  Venter.    To  the  extreme  darkness  of  'he 
uight,  the  enemy's  knowledge  of  his  intended  point 
of  attack,  and  our  not  knowing  at  what  point  to  ex- 
pect him,  must  be  attributed  his  partial  success,  and 
not  to  a  want  of  strength  or  bravery  in  our  troops, 
who,  generally,  behaved  remarkably  well  under  all 
the   circumstances ;    and   however  unfortunate   the 
event,  as  it  relates  to  myself,  I  only  ask  that  all  the 
circumstances  may  be  taken  into  consideration,  in 
making  up  your  opinion  upon  the  conduct  of  general 
Winder  and  myself  in  this  aiiair,  which  I  am  sure 
you  will  do,  and  I  flatter  myself  you  will  see  no 
cause  of  censure.    I  regret  that  my  decrepid  situation, 
and  the  rapidity  with  which  we  have  been  brought  to 
this  place,  has  put  it  out  of  my  power  to  give  you  a 

7 


J. 


I 


■^n 


•B""^ 


^ 


detailed  tccount  of  the  affair  earlier.  I  am  now  able 
to  walli  some  witli  tlie  aid  of  a  cane,  and  hope  I  shall 
coatinue  to  recover. 

I^f  ve  the  honor  to  be^  &c.  &c. 

r  -^is    '  JOHN  CHANDLER, 

Brigadier  Gfneral 


Jjfx"  •* 


Major  General  Dearborn. 


"'  ".."'".  'J ' 


^^^  Vk  4  t  HEAD  QUARTERS,  FORT  GEORGE, 


*■-; 


■\.,<f 


^'''^".■^•.^i;  v,V> .,;  .^i'«.;.. -.•M,j!- iHi,,.  „..;.  >.  ,^-      June  ISth.^,^ 

4;^  .  As  the  general  is  unable  to  write,  I  am  di- 
lifted  by  him  to  inform  you,  that  in  adddition  to  the 
debility  and  fbver  he  has  been  afflicted  with,  he  has 
witliin  the  last  twenty-fimr  hours  experienced  a  vio- 
lend  spasmodic  attack  on  his  bi*east,  which  has  obliged 
him  to  relinquish  business  altogether,  and  the  com* 
mand  is  given  over  to  major  general  Lewis,  who  will 
in  future  make  the  necessarv  conimnnications  to  the 
department  of  war.  The  British  fleet  still  rides  trium> 
phant  iu  this  section  of  the  lake. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Sir, 

With  great  respect  and  consideration,  V 

Your  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

SAMUEL  S.  CONNER, 

A.  D.  C.  to  general  Dearborn*  ' 


■'  .r 


z. 


Ron.  TJeneral  John  Armstrong, 
Secretary  of  War. 


•■#^ 


i. 


Cw] 


01 


.K 


^  Extract  of  a  hiier  from  the  SBcrvtary  ok  War  to 
^^  V» ;     t/^ojor  General  Dearborn,  dated 

WAK   DEPARTMENT, 

^      June  19. 1813. 

^'  .ii ,..  v.^.       .      \       •  t: 

'  '  <<  Your  letters  of  the  6t1i  and  8th  instant  have  been 
received.  There  in,  indeed,  some  strange  fatality  at- 
tending our  efforts.  I  cannot  disguise  from  you  the 
surprise  occasioned  by  the  two  escapes  of  a  beaten 
enemy  ;  first  on  the  ^th  ultimo,  and  again  on  the  1st 
instant.  Battles  are  not  gained  when  an  inferior  and 
broken  enemy  is  not  destroyed.  Nothing  is  done, 
while  any  thing  that  might  have  been  done,  is  omitted. 
This  maxim  is  as  old  as  the  profession  of  arms,  and 
in  no  walk  of  life  applies  with  as  much  force  as  ii^ 
that  of  a  soldier. 

"'  <<  Should  Proctor  have  I'etired  from  Maiden,  and 
been  able  to  effect  a  junction  witli  Vincent's  corps  at 
the  head  of  the  lake,  it  has  been  done  for  one  or  two 
purposes ;  either  to  dispute  with  you  the  possession 
©f  the  peninsula,  or  more  securely  to  effect  their  gene- 
ral retreat  to  Kingston.  The  latter  is  tiie  more  pro- 
bable conjp'^  le  oi  the  two,  and  is  strengtheneil  by  the 
appearance  of  Yeo  on  the  u])per  part  of  the  lake,  and 
by  the  pu^ition  which  Vincent  has  taken  there/^ 


v: 


M. 


m 


-V^v 


EXTRACT. 

HEAD  QUARTERS,  FORT  GEORGE, 

June  SO,  1818. 


SIR, 


I  have  been  so  reduced  in  strength  as  to  hti  in- 
capable of  any  command.  Brigadier  general  Boyd 
is  the  only  general  officer  present,  and  from  resignn. 


%m 


m-^ 


'  'fti .'■'^''T'- 


50 


tioii§9  siclcnessy  and  othcsr  comingencies/ihe  ikiinDer 
of  regimental  officers  present  fit  for  duty  are  far  beloiv 
what  tbe  service  requires.  A  considerable  proportion 
of  our  army  being  composed  of  new  recruits,  and  the 
weather  having  been  extremely  unfavorable  to  health, 
the  sick  have  become  so  numerous,  in  addition  to  the 
wounded,  as  to  reduce  the  effective  force  far  below 
what  could  have  been  contemplated ;  but  if  the  wea<r 
ther  should  become  favorable,  which  ought  to  be  ex- 

Sectec^  a  great  part  of  the  sick  will  probably  be  fit  for 
uty  in  a  short  time.  The  enemy  have  been  rein- 
forced at  the  head  of  the  lake  with  about  900  men  of 
the  lOl^th  regiment.  A  vessel  carrying  ammunition 
and  other  munitions  of  war,  bound  to  the  head  of  the 
lake,  was  captured  four  days  since  by  one  of  commo^ 
dore  Chauncey's  schooners,  from  whi;h  I  conclude, 
that  the  enemy  will  endeavor  to  keep  up  such  a  force 
at  or  near  thfe  head  of  the  lake,  as  to  prevent  any  part 
of  our  force  in  this  quarter  from  joining  or  proceedings 
to  Backett's  Harbor  for  the  purpose  of  attacking 
Kingston ;  and  such  is  the  state  of  the  roads  in  this  fiiit 
country,  in  consequence  of  continual  rains,  as  to  ren^^ 
der  any  operations  against  the  enemy  extremely  dif- 
ficult without  the  aid  of  a  fleet  for  the  transportation 
of  provisions,  ammunition  and  other  necessary  sup- 
plies. The  enemy  would  probably  retreat  on  our  ap- 
proach and  keep  out  of  our  reach,  being  covered  by 
one  or  more  ai  med  vessels,  which  remain  on  this  part 
of  the  lake.  The  whole  of  these  embarrassments  have 
resulted  from  a  temporary  loss  of  the  command  of  the 
lake.  The  encmv  has  availed  himself  of  the  ad  van- 
tage  and  forwarded  reinforcements  and  supplies.'^ 


•'     ':./■, 


"•*>■*«„ 


.t. 


■S.-i 


* 


Major  General  Dearborn,  dated 

WAR  DEPARTMENT, 

i#  y/:.  July  1,1813. 

t-  '   ■   ^  '  '  ' 

<<  The  leisure  you  now  have  offers  a  fine  op. 

portunity  for  the  adjutants  and  inspectors  general  to 
attend  to  their  particular  duties.  Some  of  the  parties 
of  which  you  speak  from  the  enemy,  may  practice  a 
tiick  on  those  who  follow  them.  Ihese  last  ought  to 
be  very  circumspect.  Ghauncey  will,  I  hope,  soon 
re-appear  on  the  lake.  A  battle  will  then  decide 
>idbich  of  us  shall  be  victor  for  the  campaign.  I  am 
afraid  that  we  have  all  along  acted  on  a  belief,  very 
pleasing,  but  ill  founded,  viz.  that  we  were  ahead  of 
the  enemy  as  to  naval  means  and  naval  preparation  on 
the  lakes.  Are  we  sure  that  our  calculations  with  re- 
gard to  lake  Erie  have  been  better  than  those  with  re- 
gard to  lake  Ontario?  A  week  or  two  will  decide  this 
question."  ,.. 


'V.f; 


..'»*-■ 


HEAD   QUARTERS,    FORT    GEORGE, 

-    ^         ;       June  25,  1813. 


4 


:t^:'        ■  ^*'    ' 

SIR,  ^  ^  •V->.r.x>';^ 

:;  .  I  have  the  mortification  of  informing  you  of 
an  unfortunate  and  u!^ accountable  event,  which  occur- 
red yesterday.  On  the  S3d,  at  evening,  lieutenant 
colonel  Boerstler  with  570  men,  infantry,  artillery, 
cavalry,  and  rifle  men,  in  due  proportion,  was  order- 
ed to  march,  by  the  way  of  Queenstown,  to  a  place 
called  the  Beaver  Dams,  on  the  higli  ground  about 
eight  or  nine  miles  from  Quecnstown,  to  attack  and 
disperse  a  body  of  the  enemy  collected  there  for  the 
purpose  of  procuring  provisions,  and  harassing  those 
inhabitants  who  are  considered  friendly  to  the  United 
States ;  their  force  was,  from  the  most  direct  infor- 


■*•;-■ 

■0' 


(  ^r- 


fi  *: 


m: 


.;v--5{:.  '-■) 


(\ 


M 


mUSlSii,  composed  of  one  company  of  the  IQlftb  regi- 
ent,  abov6  80  strong:  from  IdOto  SOO  militia^  and 
m  50  to  60  Indians.  At  eight  o'clock  yesterday 
^^orping,  iy)ien  within  about  two  miles  of  the  Beaver 
^^ifamsy  ,our  detachment  was  attacked  from  an  ambu9^ 
qide,  but  soon  drove  the  enemy  some  distance  iaio 
the  woods,  and  then  retired  to  a  clear  field,  and  sent 
f  an  express  for  a  reinforcement,  saying,  he  would 
**  maintain  his  position  until  reinforced.  A  reinforce- 
ment of  300  men  marched  immediately  under  the 
command  of  colonel  Chrystie,  but  on  arriving  at 
Qjaeenstown,  colonel  Chrystie  received  authentic  in4 
formation  that  lieutenant  colonel  Boerstler  with  his 
command  had  surrendered  to  the  enemy,  and  the  re- 
inforcement returned  to  camp.  A  man  who  belonged 
to  a  small  corps  of  mounted  volunteer  rifle  men,  came 
in  this  morning,  who  states,  that  the  enemy  surround- 
ed our  detachment  in  the  woods,  and  towards  1^ 
o'clock  commenced  a  general  attack;  that  our  troops 
fought  more  than  two  hours,  until  the  artillery  had 
expended  the  whole  of  its  ammunition,  and  then  sur. 
tendered,  and  at  the  time  of  the  surrender  the  inform^ 
ant  made  his  escape.  Why  it  should  have  beeti 
deemed  proper  to  remain  several  hours  in  a  position 
surrounded  with  woods  without  either  risking  a  deci- 
sive action,  or  effecting  a  retreat,  remains  to  be  ac- 
eounted  for,  as  well  as  the  project  of  waiting  for  a 
reinforcement  from  a  distance  of  fifteen  or  sixteen 
Bules. 

No  information  has  been  received  of  the  killed  or 
wounded.  The  enemy's  fleet  has  again  arrived  in 
our  neighbourhood. 

With  respect  and  esteemi 

:  I  am,  sir. 

Your  humble  servant, 

H.  DEARBORN. 


jf-. . 


t. 


Hon.  John  Armstrong, 
Secretary  of  War. 


h 

ti 

y 

0 


4) 


'^ 


'•'^tiitfiatm 


I'-t- 


%fe' 


AtiH^' 


A* 


y3X:-T"''  ■•ij/'it  '^ 


■■■■■/ 

Sin, 


^-'^'^^'^^^%A«;  im?A»irM^Nl',  SvAy  6>  iai8..v 


5 


-.1' 


:♦■  %  ■ 


I  have  Uic  President's  owlers  to  cxpries*  to  y<iii  i 
kis  decision,  that  you  i-etire  from  the  command  of  disv| 
trict  No.  9)  and  of  the  troops  within  the  same,  u^iH;; 
your  health  be  ns-eftahlished,  a,n4  until  ^^^^ 
orders.  '•  •'"•■'  ':^ '''•■■%  ■•-  -.."'"?^:; ,  '  ^^  ^,  ^^ 
I  have  the  honor  to  he,  '\^^y?^ 

L'l.j'^'v     Sir,  '"'"'■;■'    7   %t.    I  ' 


-m  '^ff^ 


\:yi*'^|ni^^j|*v.'*.^  ^  With  very  great  resppct>     *ifM^.-^ 


^prt. 


• » »    , »'., 


■li?^;- 


Your  most  obedient 

And  very  humble  servant, 


f  .n^., '  ,,r'  ■>    .„   ..^,iOHN  ARMSTE0N1&. 

Major  General  Henry  Dearborn.  t ' 


'•S 


■j» 


-if'-'- 


V- ',  ? 


*:'. 


'*   >j     "'  !.'    '''' 


.J,  , 


/    n 


-     'If 


'  ^-'-C    Hh 


.'    .,>*.  \,'f^?*. 


f  ...J  . 


K'i 


*/T,    I,  J 


'.    ^'V' 


I.'.  ^    <  ^• 


.1      ,   '  .t. 


.- -yf 


■  1-5 


^  ■;  -  ,  ;.-  ">' 


.-.4^ 


-,^^«'M-.' 


.-*     '*    ' 

'i 

.      •■ 

If 

i 

...j^^- 

i  ■■  i 

I***;*!.  ' 

■  >; 

^. 

ill 

r  J 

^'f 

':  * 

'A   '•■    A  .-i    '^ 


C«4] 


f^: 


><■ 


..^^f-'^P-i^-^i^i^'A 


.:^ 


!t^5t;oiTeppondenc-  -Jtween  the  Secretary  of  War  and  Bri- 
gadier General  Boyd.  ^ 


•**• 


,>Mi'^i;'vvsJ 


Jl^i0$ract  of  a  letter  from  the  Secretary  of  War  to 

''^^^^f^r0,Mrigadier  General  Boyd,  dated  vf ; 

:\':vy  V  ■■••'-    -"^WAR  DEPARTMENT,  ^ 

,:^^"^^^*-f ?^?1.- .1  ..•     July30,1813.C'v" 

"  The  restriction  put  upon  you  with  regard  to 
the  enemy,  was  but  commensurate  with  their  com* 
mand  of  the  lake.  So  long  as  they  had  wings  and  you 
had  only  feet;  so  long  as  they  could  be  transported, 
supplied  and  reinforced,  by  water  and  at  will,  com- 
mon sense,  as  well  as  military  principles,  put  you  on 
the  defensive.  These  circumstances  changed,  the 
reason  of  the  rule  changes  with  them ;  and  it  now  be- 
comes your  business,  in  concert  with  the  fleet,  to  ha- 
rass and  destroy  the  enemy,  wherever  you  can  find 
him.  Of  the  competency  of  your  force  there  can  be 
no  doubt,  provided  your  estimate  of  his  be  but  tole- 
rably correct." 


WAR  DEPARTMENT, 

July  30,  1813. 


SIR, 


I  have  this  moment  received  information  that 
fort  Meigs  is  again  attacked,  and  by  a  considerable 
regular  force.  This  must  have  been  drawn  from  De 
Rottenberg's  corps.  His  late  insolence  in  pushing 
his  small  attacks  to  the  very  outline  of  your  works,  has 
been  intended  to  mask  the  weakness  produced  by  this 
detachment.      If  (as  you  say)  you  can  beat  him,  do 


^'"ttmm 


..'.w"Wii»,i..,ii  u  .1  '-'ff 


it  without  delay;  and  remember,  that  if  yen  beat,  you. 
aiiiist  destroy  him.  There  is  no  excuse  for  a  geaieral; 
who  permits  a  beaten  enemy  to  escape  and  to  rally.. 
These  remarks  grow  out  of  some  recent  events  iH: 
your  quarter,  and  require  no  explanation.  It  is  the 
president's  wish  that  you  should  communicate  fully 
and  freely  with  brigadier  general  Williams.  It  ii 
only  by  this  kind  of  intercourse  that  the  eiforts  of  all 
Itao  be  united  in  promoting  the  public  good. 

.  ^\  I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully. 

Your  most  obedient,  humble  servant, 

JOHN  ABMSTEONG. 


i'J-.V       \-!li~ 


Brigadier  General  Boydi 
Fort  George. 


■  (\i'y 


«>■;. 


J;-. 


^r.-. 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  Brigadier  General  John  P. 
,i^, ;  ;;,,  Boyd  to  the  Secretary  of  War^  dated     < 

-ip^,::  .:.:,.l:    f^      UBAD  QUARTERS,  FORT  GEORGE,       *  ^ 

^■;J''Ur.^<-..,.,     ,v.v.,-,,:^,  .     July  ST,.  1813.^^ 

'^  I  had  the  honor  to  address  you  last  on  the 
S4th  instant.  On  the  22d  instant,  general  Lewis  and 
commodore  Chauncey  were  advised  by  me  that  from 
intelligence  received  from  major  Chapin  and  deser- 
tcrs,  most  of  the  enemy's  captured  ordnance  and  their 
principal  depot  of  ammunition,  stores,  &c.  are  at  the 
head  of  the  lake.  It  was  suggested  that  a  small 
force  might  surprise,  take,  destroy,  or  bring  them  off, 
if  part  of  the  fleet  might  be  allowed  to  assist  in  mov- 
ingour  troops. 

Yesterday  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  brought  me  a  let. 
ter  from  commodore  Chauncey,  stating  that  he 
approved  of  the  enterprise  and  would  go  himself 
with  his  fieet  to  the  hem  of  the  lake,  and  requested 
guides,  information,  &c.    I  have  deemed  it  proper 

8 


ill 


\ii 


»vi- 


C64J 


to  detail  a  number  of  troops  under  the  command  of 
colonel  Scott,  which  will  mbark  on  board  the  Lady 
of  the  Lake,  with  directions  to  join  the  squadron, 
which  is  believed  to  be  now  somewhere  near  Little 
York." 


■».- 1  -'.I 


'-..'.v-^, 


....  V.  - 

JEhstract  of  a  letter  from  Brigadier  General  Boifii 
'Z  >  >       to  the  Secretary  at  War,  dated 


1*6  . 


■  \'>j  ■  T 


-*•  WT/, 


■-■«T^  ,  - 


^♦^v/iPri-'W/ 


^  ■    '     "-Ulh-; 


'■;  7  ;>  FORT  GEORGE, 

^*  1  had  the  honor  to  address  you  on  the  27tb 
instant.  Agreeably  to  the  plan  therein  suggested, 
commodore  Chauncey  arrived  here  on  the  S«8th  in- 
stant and  received  on  board  the  fleet  a  body  of  men 
under  the  command  of  colonel  Scott.  Light  and 
contrary  winds  retard  their  progress  up  the  lake,  but 
ere  this  the  attack  has  probably  been  made  on  the 
head  of  the  lake.  No  information  has  as  yet  been 
received.      -  tv.--  .'.  ■^:- -(..:■  ■■;'■- '■^!.f^<^  v:.' 

"  The  enemy  has  lately  kept  his  Indians  so  cour 
itantly  scouring  the  woods  of  our  vicinity,  tliat  we 
gain  no  deserters  nor  intelligence  of  his  movements.'' 


;^V, 


Colonel  Scott^s  Report, 


FORT  GEORGE, 


Bi]k> 


August  3,  1818. 


I  have  the  honor  to  report,  that  in  obedience 
to  your  orders  I  proceeded  on  board  the  fleet  with  the 
detachment  of  troops  under  my  command,  destined  to 
act  against  the  enemy's  post  at  the  head  of  Little  Ir.ke, 
PF  Bwlington  bay ;  in  sight  of  which  place  I  arrived 


'  "■n",iiM.».i'imn,..jii  J  iiijipi" 


'T''\-rr  'l'%.;<i:,':t^  ,;,/-■ 


:*,  ■".  ^r~:i 


i  mt 


t^l 


late  in  the  evening  of  the  80th  ultimo,  the  fleet  having 
been  greatly  delayed  by  the  almost  constant  calm 
which  has  prevailed  since  we  sailed. 

This  delay  of  forty-eight  hours  Stet  our  destina« 
tjon  became  obvious  to  the  enemy,  enabled  him  to  an^ 
ticipate  our  arrival  by  a  reinforcement  of  SOO  men 
from  the  nearest  posts  on  this  side  of  the  lake,  of 
which  we  were  early  appvized.  Nevertheless,  com- 
modore Ghauncev;  with  my  concurrence,  thought  it 
adviseable  to  land  the  detachment  from  the  army,  to- 
gether with  about  S50  marines  and  seamen  from  the 
fleet,  (making  a  total  force  of  about  fiQO  men)  the  bet- 
ter to  enable  us  to  ascertain  the  exact  force  and  posi- 
tion  of  the  enemy's  camp.  The  landing  was  made  on 
the  neck  of  land  which  nearly  cute  off  the  Little  lake 
from  lake  Ontario.  From  this  point  we  could  plainly 
discover  the  enemy's  position  on  Burlington  heights, 
surrounded  on  three  sides  by  a  creek,  and  in  front  by 
an  entrenchment  and  a  battery  of  seven  pieces  o/ can- 
non. The  Little  lake  or  bay  is  between  those  two 
points,  six  or  seven  miles  across. 

Perceiving  the  strength  of  tlie  enemy's  position,  and 
learning  from  the  inhabitants,  that  the  force  on  the 
heights,  independent  of  the  reinforcement  al>  jve  men-? 
tior.ed,  was  nearly  equal  to  our  own,  the  commodore 
determined  not  to  risk  an  attack,  especially  as  our 
boats  would  have  been  greatly  annoyed  in  the  ascent 
towards  the  head  of  the  bay,  by  a  small  schooner  of 
the  enemy's,  having  on  board  one  18  pound  carro^ 
nade.  The  channel  connecting  the  two  lakes  did  not 
afford  water  for  tlie  pa  jsage  of  either  of  our  schoon- 
ers. In  the  above  opinion  I  fully  concurred  with  th«. 
commodore.  It  may  be  added,  tliat  the  enemy  re- 
ceived a  further  reinforcemtnt  of  400  men  the  samt. 
evening  by  laud  from  Kingston.  a 

On  our  return  to  this  harbor  the  fleet,  put  intft^ 
York,  at  which  place  w\^  bi3;fnt  the  baiTacks  and  pub- 
lic stores,  and  brought  oifone  piec»»  of  ordnance,  (Sli 
pf>ttnder)  eleven  batteaux,  and  about  4!0(^  barrels,  tf 


;m 


00 


[54] 


■  w 


'^.■■' 


flour  and  hard  bread.  The  barracks  atod  stbrei  had 
been  repaired  since  the  S7th  May.  Thirtv  or  forty 
•ick  and  woimded  in  hospital^  wereparoled,  and  four 
prisoners  (regulars)  brought  off.  There  had  been  no 
garrison  at  the  place  for  me  few  days  previous. 

I  h9*.  e  the  honor  to  be,  sir. 

Your  most  obedient  servant^ 

W.  SCOTT, 

CoL  com*  (U'itichment 


^i-\ 


BrigadBer  General  Boyd} 

Commandingi  <cc.  fai 


n£',. 


^K; 


Extraci  of  a  letter  from  Brigadier  General  John 


t  of  a 
\Boy^ 


P.  boyi  to  the  Secretary  of  tVar^  dated 

\  BEAD  (lUAltTERS,  FORT  GEORGE,  V,  C 

^|,  ,  .;^^*4.#v>  ^.^--August  8, 181S. 

A^  <^  By  Tuesday's  mail  I  had  the  honor  to  receive 
your  commands  of  the  30th  instant,  and  yesterday  a 
number  of  letters  enclosed,  which  were  delivered  as 
directed. 

<<  Conceiving  myself  at  liberty  to  act  offensively 
on  the  arrival  of  the  fleet,  an  expedition  was  imme^* 
diately  concerted  against  the  enemy,  and  acceded  to 
by  commodore  Chaunccy.  One  thousand  was  to  em- 
bark on  board  the  fleet,  under  the  command  of  briga- 
dier ^neral  Williams,  to  land  at  the  head  of  the  lake. 
The  army  at  this  place  was  to  move  in  two  columns 
against  the  enemy's  front,  while  general  Williams 
assailed  his  rear  and  cut  off  his  retreat.  Yesterday 
iBoming,  the  time  when  the  troops  were  to  have  emi- 
barked,  the  enemy's  fleet  ^as  discovered  off 'this 
place. 


'4' 


.t^A 


^"^r 


i  ■*?>* 


'^  ComtUddore  ChaUncey  weighed  anch<  r,  ap- 
proached  him,  and  by  every  indication,  that  a  lee- 
ward  position  would  admit^  offered  to  engage." 


shad 
forty  " 

Iftrar  .f?^> 
en  no 


meni*  :; , 


13. 

Bceivif 
rday  a 
rod  a9 

sively 
imme- 
dedto 
toem- 
briga- 
s  lake, 
lumns 
lliam» 
terday 
^e  cmi- 
OT-tVis 

■■Ma  I 

1-,  ap. 
a  lee- 


i] 


il.'- 


Steturn  of  the  killed  and  woun< 
F   ;v   .  ^j^eral  James^  ^ 


•> 


I 


Ecturn  of  the  killed  and  wonmlcd  of  a  detachment  of  the  army  of  the  Unite 
general  James  Wilkinson,  in  an  action  fought  at  Willianitibu 


KILLED 

• 

■  * 

WOUN 

* 

• 

* 

• 

i 

4 

1 

3 

• 

- 

• 

3 

id 

jj5 

o 

u 

1/) 

• 
in 

ii 

• 

1 

.S3 
'i. 

1 
< 

E 

0 

u 
< 

1 

U 

o^l 

*• 

3 

3 

7 

3 

I 

88 

9<J 

102 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

5 

( 

Names  of  the  commissioned  offi 


KILLEI 

Lieutenant  William  W.  Smith,  of  the  light  artillery. 

David  Hunter,  of  the  12th  regimtnt  infantr}'. 
Kdward  Olmstead,  of  the  16th  ditto 

WOUpE 

Brigadier  general  Leonard  Co\'ington,  mortally,  (since  dead.)        1 
Major  Talbot  Chambers,  assistant  adjutant  general,  slightly.  ' 

Major  Darby  Noon,  aidde-enmp  to  brigadier  general  Swartwout,  slight 
Colonel  James  P.  Preston,  of  the  23d  regiment  infantry,  severely,  his  ri 
Mdjor  William  Cummings,  8th  ditto,  severely. 
Captain  Edmund  Foster,  9th  ditto,  slightly. 

David  S.  Townsend,  9th  ditto,  severely.     Taken  prisoner. 
,  Mordecai  Myers,  13th  ditto,  severely. 

John  Campbell,  1.3ih  ditto,  slightly. 
John  13.  Murdoch,  25th  ditto,  slighdy.  '    • 

Lieutenant  William  S.  Htaton,  lith  ditto,  severely. 
John  Williams,  13ih  ditto,  slightly 
John  Lynch,  14th  ditto,  severely.     Taken  prisoner. 
Peter  Pelham,  21st  ditto,  severely.     Taken  prisoner. 
James  D.  Brown,  25th  ditto,  slightly. 
Archibald  C.  Crary,  25th  ditto,  severely  in  the  skirmish  the  t 

ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 

Head  Quarters,  Mitimrrf  Mri 

N.  B.  Colonel  Preston  commanded  the  13th  regiment  of  infantry  during  the  action;  and  major  Cum 

a~60  '■ 


i 


1, 


I'i 


/•^'  ^^ 


army  of  the  Uhltcd  States,  clesenrling  the  St.  Lawrence,  unfler  the  command  of  major 
i^ht  at  Willianibburg,  in  Upper  Canada,  on  the  11th  of  November,  1813. 


§ 

"3 
U 


8 

■JT 


WOUNDED. 


u 


3 

C/3 


6 


2 


13 


.a 

•35 

3 


V  '■", 


198 


"3 


221       237 


Q 


0 


320 


n 

O 


339 


REMARKS. 


;  commissioned  officers  killed  and  wounded. 


,'T._ 


KILLED. 


&: 


-•JW 


rtillery. 
tnt  infantr}'. 
tto 


WOUpED. 


,'  rr 


) 


Uy,  (since  dead.)         1     'i     >     | 

eneral,  slightly. 

;r  general  Swartwout,  slightly. 

ent  infantry,  severely,  his  right  thigh  fractured. 

ly-  1 


Tely.     Taken  prisoner. 
iv. 


I 


tly. 
everely. 

iiy 

.     7flA:e«  prisoner. 
ly.     TaAffrt  prisoner. 

trhtlv» 

ieverely  in  the  skirmish  the  day  before  the  action. 

JERAL'S  OFFICE,     f  ' 

ac/  Quarters,  Mtlitary  Miht  No.  9,  /^rr«cA  M//j,  A'ovembcr,  1813. 

I  J.  B.  WALBACH,  adjutant  general. 

I  fV.o  an»mn>  nnrl  mninr  CumAincsdid  duty  with  the  16th  rctriment  of  infantrv  in  the  action. 


■  "-.-c- 


/2 


fj'  ^d 


.1  under  the  command  of  niajor 


/\^f/»r•r^ 


K.»-    <  o  ■« 


;:? 


•<  ^. 


ii 


t 


dlBy 

1 

Unfavo 
commot 
andabf 
lose,  in 
On  the 
beard 

ins,  "^ 
pchoon 

commc 

resolvi 

circun 

upont 

letter. 

iuntee 

co-op( 

ioinu 

thecc 

atiacl 

treat, 

1 


*>K 


Hon 


sit 

sti 


•■  ifclsih*:.'*»*r:;^w.i?i^*^'^*^'*'^-*'*'"      ^-t^^ 


._  f>^     ■  '  -*t. 


M 


61 


HEAD  QUABTE1I0,  PORT  GEOROEy 

August  IS,  1818. 
dIR| 

I  had  the  honor  to  addrese  vou  the  8th  instint 
Unfavorable  winds  continued  to  thwart  the  wishes  of 
commodore  Ghauacey  to  bring  the  enemy  to  action ; 
and  about  the  9th  instant  ho  was  so  uniartunate  as  to 
lose,  in  a  squall,  two  8n\all  schooners,  which  upset. 
On  the  nignt  of  the  10th  a  severe  cannonade  was 
beard  on  the  lake,  which  we  ascertained  in  the  morn- 
ing, resulted  in  the  loss  of  two  of  our  smallest 
pcnooners.  Undiscouraged  by  these  slight  disasteris, 
commodore  Ghauncey  is  still  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy, 
resolved  to  bring  him  to  a  general  engagement.  Thcsa 
circumstances  have  necessarily  delayed  the  attack 
upon  the  enemy,  which  was  contemplated  in  my  last 
letter.  General  Porter  is  assembling  a  body  of  vo- 
lunteers and  Indians  at  Buffaloe,  with  a  ••ew  ta 
co-operale  in  this  enterprise.  He  will  |>rotably 
join  us  soon.  Any  thing  which  can  be  done  without 
the  co-operation  of  the  Heet,  shall  bo  attempted.  To 
attack  the  enemy,  without  being  able  to  cut  off  bis  re- 
treat, would  be  only  beating  without  capturing  him. 

I  have  the  lienor  to  be,  sir,        ;    ^  ^ 
•   '         With  great  reject,  4    ,■.   i 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 
JOHN  P.  BOYD. 

;,    c    ,      Mi'igadler  G*>>i^-ail  Commanding, 


A- 


,* 


Hon.  John  Armstrong, 
Secretary  of  War. 


<"/ 


'^ik 


i 


.1    fi': 


HEAD  QUARTERS,   rORT  GEORGE, 

August  15,  18134      . 


SIK. 


I  had  the  honor  to  address  you  on  the  ISth  in- 
stant.  Hince  which  time  nothing  of  importance  has 


AJi 


[S43 


occurred.  Commodore  Ghauncey  bas  left  ihis  part 
of  the  lake^  and  the  enemy  have  now  so  far  the  as- 
cendancy as  to  render  the  proposed  enterprise  against 
Ms  land  force  impracticable.  Yesterday  general 
Porter  arrived  at  this  place  with  a  body  of  volunteers 
and  Indians,  which  had  been  previously  assembled  at 
Buffaloe.  In  the  event  of  such  an  attack  as  was  con- 
templated, this  force  would  be  of  infinite  service.  At 
present  they  can  only  be  employed  to  harass  the 

enen;y.  ''^-'^^'^^-'t  t',^y"S' 

'^^r    V      I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,    '''      ■  ^"^ 

Your  most  obedlant  servant,     -   . 

JOHN  P.  BOYD, 

Brigadier  General  Commanding. 


V'f' 


Hon.  John  Armstrong, 
Secretary  at  War. 


"*     . 


■■■J 


..r^^ 


;'..  V■.'-'^■^■;''.-*•<1t*'vv'•'■ 
.v>-,  '*■■■  ■•■■        H'   *.' 


■l»'  ■  .'        -  ■ 


!«t 


,-;^>;;.r''-^^*'''- 


ii,^.. ... 


Lett 


Mxtrc 


.■■■■■/■ 


ycstei 

of  th( 

forbic 

my  til 

order 

Tliis 

the  d 

suggt 

the  CI 

guns 

must 

visio 

favoi 

Hair 

held 

plaii 

the! 

mejp 

the 
tot! 
sist 
)>o^ 


(^  ;   ■» 


:■,  ■■■W'f  ■ 


■;y^'*;' 


'-'•/■W-,;K.»t¥,T'- 


t»4g 


■# 


6d 


tpiti- 


m 


Letters  ftom  the  Secretary  at  War  to  Major  Geilenu  j^  ,;i 
Lewist  commaiMling  at  Sackett's  Harbor*  ,-'J  ^ 


.-V 


.'V  ■   'l<&ii  * 


Extracts  of  a  letter  from  the  Secretary  of  War  to 
Major  General  Lewis,  dated 

C  WAR   DEPAfttMEiJt,  / 

■fit' "u  '  '  \'i^'.-    • 

July  9, 18134,1 

*•'  An  order  was  expedited  to  general  Dea^borti 
^^esterday,  permitting  him  to  retire  from  the  command 
of  the  army  and  district.  Another  was  sent  to  Boyd 
forbidding  him  to  engage  in  any  affair  with  the  ene- 
my  that  could  be  avoided,  and  subjecting  him  to  the 
orders  of  major  general  Hampton  and  of  yourself. 
This  last  (for  Hampton  is  now  the  oldest  officer  in 
the  district)  was  intended  to  meet  the  contingency 
suggested  in  my  last  letter,  viz.  that  if  we  regained 
the  command  of  the  lake,  and  Yeo  retired  under  the 
guns  of  Kingston ;  that  this  moment  of  superiority 
must  not  be  lost,  and  that  bringing  down  Boyd's  di. 
vision  a  blow  might  be  struck  at  that  place.  To 
favor  this  enterprise,  orders  will  be  sent  to  general 
Hampton  to  push  his  head  quarters  to  the  position 
held  by  ^ur  army  the  last  campaign  on  lake  Cham- 
plain ;  and  a  requisition  for  ten  thousand  militia  from 
the  states  of  New  York  and  Vermont,  in  reinforce, 
mentof  this  part  of  the  plan,  will  be  superadded. 

"  f  he  moment  Chauncey  goes  out  our  stores  along 
the  south  shore  of  the  lake  sliould  be  brought  down 
to  the  harbor,  and  in  that  case,  your  small  posts  (con- 
sisting of  regular  troops)  di-awn  into  you|r  mai|i 
Jl)ody." 


II 


'.'•■.•■,      ' 


V  /^V'4 


a 


?«^' 


CS4] 


i-j'fk 


■>r 


'#'■'■ 


,s_       WAR  DEPARTMENT, 


July  8^  1813. 


It  ifl  not  merely  possible,  but  probable,  that  the 
British  fleet  ia  lake  Ontario  may,  upon  the  fitting  out 
N  the  General  Pike,  refuse  a  battle  and  take  shelter 
l  under  the  guns  of  Kingston  until  their  new  brig  shall 
J  restore  to  them  the  superiority.  A  question  of  much 
I  importance  arises  on  this  supposed  state  of  things. 
What  will  be  the  best  possible  employment  of  our 
force  during  the  period  we  may  be  able  to  command 
the  lake?  Shall  we  reinforce  the  troops  at  fort 
George  from  Sackett's  Harbor  and  cut  on  Vincent, 
or  shall  we  bring  from  fort  George  tlie  mass  of  the 
division  there,  and  uniting  them  to  your  present  com- 
mand, attack  the  enemy  at  Kingston  ?  If  the  latter 
part  of  the  alternative  be  adopted,  two  things  must 
be  done.  A  heavy  body  of  militia  should  be  assem- 
bled  at  Ogdensburg  to  draw  to  that  point  the  enemy's 
attention,  and  general  Hampton  should  move  rapidly 
and  in  force  against  Montreal.  Oar  assembled  force 
at  Sackett's  Harbor  would  amount  to  seven  thousand 
men,  independently  of  thj  naval  means.  The  ene- 
my's land  force  at  Kingston  is  about  four  thousand. 
Gould  a  successful  attack  be  made  here,  the  fate  of 
the  campaign  is  decided — perhaps  that  of  the  war. 
The  object  is  great ;  but  in  proportion  as  It  is  so,  the 
means  of  effecting  it  ought  to  be  well  considered. 
From  the  sketches  I  have  been  able  to  procure  of 
Kingston  and  its  vicinity,  I  have  no  doubt  but  that 
the  attack  should  be  made  on  the  works  which  cover 
tlie  battery  on  Navy  Point.  These  gained,  town, 
battery,  and  harbor  are  all  at  your  discretion.  Be- 
ware of  dividing  your  attack.  Confine  it  to  a  single 
point,  but  let  that  point  be  a  commanding  one. 
„      :  Believe  me,  general, 

Very  respectfully  and  faithfully  yours, 
JOHN  ARMSTRONG. 

Major  Gen.  Lewisj  Sackett's  Harbor. 


■'<''.^;r'>'",    tf ;;  '  -/■-■' 


-^-'M-' 


rt'  v,-7,*r\-'if-'""^  }^y-  ■»«",■■  .7j'Tff'-,'rr  •■'■/M^j^^'t"'""*-'  ^^"./'.■'■■■.■'..■'■■|-:«''  y./'j,   ■^■"*';'W"-"^^,'^^>" 


j!tv; 


£34] 


65 


Correspondence  between  the  Secretary  of  War  and  Major 
V  i  s.->rT  i  i   >  General  H 


^'f^-^- 


•  -.  ■  •;      "■  -■:•     \   '■'•:■•'■■,■ ' 
■   .,  ■'  '    .■V^.:1r^•..V■^.    .■ 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  the  Secretary  of  War  to 
Major  General  William  U.  Harrison,  dated 


^■^f^- 


WAR    DEPARTM^.NT,  v 

V   .v        March  5, 1813. 


**  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt 
of  your  despatches  of  the  11th  and  SOth  ultimo. 
t<«The  suspension  of  your  movement  in  advance^ 
appears  to  have  been  necessary;  but  though  this 
may  be  the  case,  your  demonstrations  against  Mai. 
den  should  not  cease.  These  you  will  make  in  such 
way  as  shall  be  best  calculated  to  keep  up  the  ene- 
my's alarln  for  the  safety  of  that  post,  and  of  the 
ships  of  war  wintering  there.  You  will  be  more 
able  to  appreciate  the  value  of  this  policy  when  I 
state,  that  we  shall  very  soon  be  in  motion  on  the 
Niagara  and  St.  Laurence. 

"  You  did  well  in  stopping  the  march  of  the  two 
regiments  from  Ohio.  To  have  added  to  your  forco 
so  long  as  your  object  is  restricted  to  the  mainte- 
nance of  your  present  position,  would  have  been  a 
very  useless  expenditure  of  both  public  spirit  and 
public  money. 

"  As  your  campaign  is  now  at  an  end,  and  yet 
nearly  approached  to  that  which  is  coming,  it  may 
be  proper  to  communicate  to  you  the  president's  view* 
in  relation  to  your  subsequent  movements. 

^'  It  would  appear  that  Maiden  can  only  be  suc- 
cessfully approached  by  the  route  you  are  now  up- 
on, at  two  seasons  of  the  year — mid- winter  and  mid- 


'I 


r 


■Kf-K:^.<-:^-;—-e-fi-'^   ■■;     •'"' •^''^  il^,'"^*,'"/ ^IXY}^^\('  '•'  ' 


.,-_...^,  ..,.-         1^  . 


SB 


[S4] 


summer.  Tlie  former  is  gone,  and  to  wait  for  the 
latter,  would  be  hardly  less  disastrous  than  defeat 
itself.  What  remains  for  us  to  do  is  to  keep  our 
present  ground  till  the  lake  opens,  and  then  to  ap- 
proach our  object  by  water,  and  under  convoy  of  the 
vessels  of  war  building  at  Presque  Isle.  These 
will  be  aHoat  and  ready  to  operate  by  the  middle  of 
May.  By  the  same  time  boats  for  the  transporta- 
tion of  the  troops,  a  train  of  artillery,  baggage,  &c. 
may  be  constructed.  Cleveland  is  believed  to  be 
the  place  best  fitted  for  this  purpose.  It  will  also 
be  made  the  depot  for  the  troops  to  be  employed  on 
the  expedition,  which  will  be  the  24th  regiment  now 
at  iMassac;  and  three  of  the  twenty  new  regiments 
provided  by  an  act  of  the  session  of  congress  which 
closed  yesterday.  Two  of  these  will  be  raised  in 
the  state  of  Ohio,  and  the  third  in  that  of  Kentucky. 
"  Whatever  these  troops  may  fall  short  of  the 
number  and  strength  contemplated  by  the  laws  under 
which  they  shall  be  raised,  must  necessarily  be  made 
up  from  militia  and  volunteers;  whence  will  arise 
the  necessity  of  strictly  attending  to  the  progress  of 
enlistments,  so  that  in  the  event  «f  their  failure, 
which  may  be  readily  foreseen,  time  may  be  left  for 
resorting  to  the  other  expedient.''  ^. 


, .  \ 


WAK  DEPARTMENT, 

March  7,  1813. 


SIR, 


Your  letter  of  the  18th  of  February  was,  from 
some  cause,  delayed  much  beyond  the  usual  course  of 
the  mail,  and  even  some  days  after  the  receipt  of  your 
despatch  of  the  20th. 

You  will  find  by  my  letter  of  the  .^th  instant,  the 
plan  prescribed  far  your  part  of  the  ensuing  campaign ; 


:   '••■•^,'"'i-,"-V 


[9*3 


<^ 


r  tlie 
efeat 
our 
ap. 
»fthe 
'hese 
le  of 
orta- 
&c. 
o  be 
also 

Ott 


and  to  prevent  any  ill  effect  arising  from  its  miacar- 
riage,  a  second  copy  is  lierewith  inclosed.  It  is  pro- 
bable that  colonels  M<  Arthur  and  Cass  will  both  be 
piomoted  to  the  rank  of  brigadier,  and  will  be  assign, 
ed  to  the  command  of  the  two  brigades  intended  to 
form  your  division  of  the  army.  In  the  enumeration 
of  corps  making  parts  of  this  division,  I  did  not  meir- 
tion  the  two  regiments  of  the  line,  the  17th  and  Ifeth, 
parts  of  which  are  already  with  you.  The  filling  up 
of  these  would  be  an  important  service,  and  you  are 
requested  to  promote  it.  If  you  are  at  ease  with  re- 
gard to  the  safety  of  your  present  post,  against  the 
attacks  of  the  enemy,  and  have  secured  to  yourself  the 
means  of  subsisting  it,  there  can  be  no  motive  for  either 
reinforcing  it  by  new  drafts  from  the  militia,  or  re- 
tiring from  it.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  your  force 
should  be  so  reduced  as  to  make  your  stay  perilous^ 
without  a  further  reinforcement,  you  may  employ  the 
tw  0  regiments  raised  in  Ohio,  or  so  many  of  them  as 
maybe  necessary  to  your  object.  If  again,  the  po- 
licy of  adding  to  your  force  be  forbidden,  by  the  diifi- 
cuUy  of  subsisting  it,  and  there  arises  a  combination 
of  both  facts,  viz :  a  want  of  force  to  maintain  your 
present  position,  and  a  want  of  means  to  subsist  a 
larger  one,  iu  that  case,  and  in  that  alone,  you  will 
retire  to  the  frontier  settlements,  and  interpose  the 
wilderness  between  you  and  the  enemy. 

Tliese  directions  have  not  grown  f^ut  of  any  sug- 
gestions to  ])e  found  in  your  letters,  but  have  been 
produced  by  a  cii'sumspection  wi'ch  it  is  always 
proper  to  extend  beyond  tlie  mere  limits  of  existing 
cii'cumstanccs. 

T  am,  sir,  with  great  respect, 

Your  obeiTient  servant, 

JOm<  ARMSTRO:v^^, 

Major  General  William  H.  HarrisoO)  -       ■  , 

Franklinton)  Ohio.  .    •   .., 


m 


i 


'  ' 


M 


m 


4 


v:. 


■     t 


■  f^y\ 


•■'t'W.-,  •/-■'••n't-.'.   '"•■.'': /'■'•'^^ 


CM] 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  ;p'^ 

^  V     ^    Mar^:.  9, 1818. 


,*«■ 


The  government  have  the  niteutioa  «>f  building 
fi  number  of  boats  on  lake  Eric ,  fur  the  j)  urpus/^'  of 
tranf^porting  troops  on  that  lake.  Clev^'.lard  is  i\e 
ppinii  farthest  west,  whei-e  any  [iordou  of  ihcEt;  can 
be  made  with  sufficient  e^ipedit:*  n.  If  the  whole 
could  be  mwle  there  ibvi  bettei .  These  boats  will  be 
of  the  kind  k?town  by  Uie  nameof  Bc;^enect»dy  boats, 
narrow,  and  sharp  a-head,  i  ad  fi.tc~bottomcd.  They 
will  carry  from  forty  to  fifty  men  ea  'i  with  their 
ba.gga;?;e,  arms  and  accoutii'meiits,  and  piovision  for 
ihe  vityage.  It  is  proposed  to  commit  the  superin- 
ien^'^^ice  of  tMs  service  to  you,  and  to  bestow  upon 
yfiii,  pro  hac  vice,  the  staff  appointment  of  deputy 
q  jTtM  ter  m  aster  general.  If  workmen  cannot  be  found 
fit  Cleveland  and  other  places  on  the  lake,  you  will 
take  them  from  Pittsburg.  Sucli  materials  as  you 
may  want,  other  than  those  produced  by  the  country 
itself,  you  will  provide  at  Pittsburg  and  have  sent  on 
without  delay.  Funds,  for  this  purpose,  will  be  put 
under  your  control,  and  you  will  be  careful  to  make 
repoi*ts  weekly  of  your  progress. 

Very  respectfully,  lam,  sir. 
Your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  ARMSTRONG. 

Captain  Jes&up,  Washington. 


■*rv\ 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  Major  General  William  M. 
. "  Harrison  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  dated 

'         *'  HEAD  QUARTERS.      .J  LICOTHE, 

arch  17,  1813. 

'■  The  known  candour    f  v    w  character  is  a  suf- 
fldei,^   acurity  for  my  rectiv??*)^  your  pardon  for  the 


mssn 


■"■Ti  ~^'<v'  •"'rr7^J"Wi.«Kjf^^'  'V'^i("'J»(?Tf.y 


M 


69 


liberty  I  take  in  making  ol^jectionR  to  the  plan  of  ope- 
rations  comriunicated  in  your  letter  of  tlie  dtli  instant. 
If  tiiei-e  is  a  positive  certainty  of  our  getting  the  com- 
mand of  lake  Erie,  and  having  a  regular  force  of  three 
thousand  five  hundred,  or  even  three  thousand,  well 
disciplined  men,  the  proposed  plan  of  setting  out 
from  Cleveland,  and  landing  on  the  northern  shore^ 
below  Maiden,  would  perhaps  be  the  one  by  which 
that  place  and  its  dependencies  could  be  most  easily 
reduced.  I  am  unacquainted  with  the  extent  of  the 
preparations  that  are  making  to  obtain  the  naval  su- 
periority upon  lake  Erie;  but,  should  they  fail  and 
the  troops  be  assembled  at  Cleveland,  it  would  be  dif- 
ficult to  get  again  upon  the  proper  track  for  making 
the  attack  round  the  head  of  the  lake.  The  attempt 
to  cross  the  lake  from  Cleveland  should  not  be  made 
with  any  otlier  than  well  disciplined  troops.  A  com- 
paratively smaller  number  of  men  of  this  description 
could  effect  the  object,  and  for  those  tiie  means  of  con- 
veyance might  be  obtained ;  but  tlie  means  of  trans- 
porting such  an  army  as  would  be  required  of  militia, 
or  undisciplined  regulars,  could  not  be  procured.  I 
can  see  no  reason  why  Cleveland  should  be  preferred 
as  the  point  of  embarkation  for  the  troops,  or  the  de- 
posit of  provisions  and  stores.  These  are  already 
accumulated  at  the  rapids  of  Miami,  or  in  situations 
to  be  easily  sent  thither  to  au  amount  nearly  equal  to 
iae  consumption  of  a  protracted  campaign.  Al  though 
the  expense  and  difficulty  of  transporting  the  provi- 
sions, artillery  and  stores  for  an  army,  round  the  head 
of  the  lake,  would  be  very  considerable,  the  lake  be- 
ing possessed  by  our  ships,  and  tlie  heavy  baggage 
token  in  boats  along  its  margin,  the  troops  would  find 
liii  «iiRi(  viiiy  iu  the  land  route.  The  force  contem- 
plated i  your  letter  is,  in  my  opinion,  not  sufficient  to 
secure  success.  A  dmUting  that  the  whole  should  be 
raised  by  the  time  pointed  out,  tlicy  would  be  very 
little  superior  to  militia;  the  officers  having,  with 
scarcely  an  exception,  to  leani  their  duty  before  they 


mU 


ji  if 

m 


I 


i^': 


.,'  m 


i.  ' 


7« 


[943 


could  instruct  their  men ;  yjf&  have,  therefore,  no  alter- 
native hut  to  make  up  by  numbers  the  deficiency  in 
discipline. 

•<  I  am  well  aware  of  the  intolerable  expense  which 
attends  the  employment  of  a  large  militia  force.  We 
are  now,  However,  in  a  situation  to  avoid  those  errors, 
which  made  tliat  of  the  last  campaign  so  peculiarly 
heavy.  Our  supplies  are  procured,  and  so  deposited 
that  the  period  for  the  mai^h  of  the  army  from  the  ad- 
vanced po8ts  can  be  ascertained  to  an  hour,  and  of 
course  the  troops  need  not  be  called  out  until  the  mo- 
ment  they  are  to  act.  Experience  has  convinced  me 
that  miliiiti  are  more  efficient  in  the  early  than  in  the 
latter  pari  of  their  service.  Upon  the  whale,  it  is  my 
decided  opinion  tliat  the  rapids  of  Miami  should  be 
the  point  of  rendezvous  for  the  troops,  as  well  as  the 
principal  depot.  Indeed  it  must  necessarily  be  tlie 
first  deposit — the  provisions  for  the  army  be  so  placed 
that  they  can  be  taken  to  the  lake  in  no  other  way. 
The  artillery  and  a  considerable  supply  of  ammuni- 
tion are  already  there.  Boats  and  perouges  have 
been  built  in  considerable  numbers  on  the  Auglaize 
and  St.  Mary's  rivers ;  and  every  exertion  is  now 
making  to  increase  them,  intended  for  the  double  pur. 
pose  of  taking  down  the  provisions  to  the  rapids,  and 
for  coasting  tli/J  lake  with  the  bagga^re  of  the  army  in 
its  advance.  I  had  calculated  upon  being  able  par- 
tially to  use  this  mode  of  transportation,  «ven  if  the 
enemy  should  continue  their  naval  superiority  on  the 
lake;  but,  with  this  advantage  on  our  side,  the  whole 
baggage  of  the  army  could  be  safely  and  expeditiously 
carried  along  the  coast  in  the  boats  and  perouges, 
which  could  be  taken  into  the  strait  to  transport  the 
army  to  the  Canada  shore. 

**  As  I  have  before  observed,  the  army,  unincumbered 
with  heavy  baggage,  would  find  no  difficulty  in  march- 
ing round  the  lake  at  any  season,  but  what  the  enemy 
would  create,  and  we  have  the  means  ^f  subsisting  a 
ibrce  that  would  be  irresistible. 


19  —  -'-        ""^   =V>,Vv»'«,       T    ■   ■  „pv  5-    'KIT-?  If-" 


[M] 


# 


"The  objections  to  proceeding  this  way,  stated  i« 
my  letter  to  colonel  Monroe,  arose  from  the  time  that 
would  be  necessary  to  construct  boats  after  we  should 
have  arrived  at  the  strait;  but  this  objection  is  en- 
tirely obviated  by  our  obtaining  the  command  of  the 
lake,  as  the  boats  and  perouges  built  upon  the  Miami 
will  answer  the  purpose.  With  regard  to  the  quan- 
tum of  force,  my  opinion  is,  that  not  only  the  regular 
troops,  designated  in  your  letter,  but  a  large  auxiliaiy 
corps  of  militia  should  be  employed.  1.  he  only  ob. 
jection  arises  from  the  expensivcness  of  troops  of  that 
description.  This,  however,  could  not  be  an  object^ 
considering  the  very  short  time  that  it  would  be  ne- 
cessary to  employ  them.  Let  the  moment  for  the 
commencement  of  the  march  from  the  rapids  be  Hxed^ 
and  the  militia  miglit  be  taken  to  that  point,  proceed 
and  accomplish  the  object,  and  return  home  in  two 
months. 

"  Amongst  the  reasons  which  makes  it  necessary  to 
employ  a  lage  force,  I  am  sorry  to  mention  the  dis- 
may and  disinclination  to  the  service  which  appears 
to  prevail  in  the  western  country ;  numbers  must  &;ive 
that  confidence  which  ought  to  be  produced  by  •  - 
scious  valor  and  intrepidity,  which  never  existed  iu 
any  army  in  a  superior  degree,  than  amongst  the 
greater  part  of  the  militia  which  were  with  me 
through  the  winter.  The  new  drafts  from  this  state 
are  entirely  of  another  character,  and  are  not  to  be  de- 
pended upon.  1  have  no  doubt,  however,  but  a  suf- 
ficient number  of  good  men  can  be  procured,  and 
should  they  be  allowed  to  serve  on  horseb^*"^''  Ken- 
tucky would  furnish  some  regiments  that  wo^i.l  be  not 
inferior  to  those  that  fought  at  the  river  Raisin,  and 
they  were,  in  my  opinion,  superior  to  any  militia  that 
ever  took  the  field  in  modern  times.  Eight  troops  of 
cavalry  have  been  formed  in  Kentucky,  to  offer  me 
'  *  ir  service ;  and  several  of  them  were  intended  for 
vwclve  months  volunteers.  Governor  Shelby  has 
some  thoughts  of  taking  the  field  in  person — a  num- 


m 


■'H' 


71 


[54] 


ber  of  ^0(1  men  m\\  follow  him.  He  thinks  that  an 
ftddreas  from  me  to  the  people  of  the  state  would 
produce  a  good  effect :  I  have  strons;  ohjections  to 
those  nil^ir  sea,  but  will  nevertheless  have  recourse 
to  rut'j  <t  Hi  other  means  fail  of  bringing  forward  a 
iiui'ilcicut  force. 

"  Every  exertion  shall  in  the  meantime  be  used  to 
forward  the  recruiting  service:  for  a  few  weeks  I 
think  that  my  services  would  be  more  useful  in  that 
than  any  other '»wj  1-^  ^t.nt."  ^  ., 


WAR  DEPARTMENT, 

April  4,  1813. 


SIR, 


Your  despatch  of  the  17th  ultimo,  from  Chilico- 
the,  has  been  received,  and  I  hasten  to  repeat  to  you 
the  views  of  the  president,  in  relat'  n  to  the  m  ^t 
campaign,  and  the  injunctions  growing  out  of  these, 
with  regard  to  the  employment  of  militia,  &c. 

Our  first  object  is  to  get  a  command  of  the  lakes. 
Means  to  accomplish  this  object  have  been  taken,  and 
We  have  the  fullest  assurance,  that  by  t!je  1st  day  of 
June  it  will  be  accomplished. 

This  fact  assumed,  there  can  be  no  longer  a  doubt 
by  vhat  L>eans,  oi  l>y  what  route,  the  division  of  the 
army  assigned  to  you,  ought  to  approach  Maiden.  A 
passage;  by  water  will  carry  you  directly  to  the  for-* 
tress  you  would  attack,  without  impairing  your 
strength  by  fatigue,  or  diminishimg  it  by  battle.  A 
passage  by  lard  \.,i\,  on  the  other  hand,  call  for 
great  efforts,  a  '  expose  you  to  great  losses,  which,  if 
they  do  not  u.  siro}  will  at  least  cripple  you.  The 
former  will  be  easy,  safe,  and  economical ;  the  latter 
difficult,  dangerous,  and  enormously  expensive. 

On  the  other  supposition,  that  we  fail  to  obtain  the 
command  of  the  lake,  a  new  question  will  arise :  whe- 


' 


CM] 


w" 


ther  the  campaign  sli  i  take  an  offeasive  or  defetiii<r« 
character?  Be  this  question  determined  as  it  may, 
the  utmoflt  extent  which  can  be  siven  to  the  foi'ce  efia- 
ployedy  will  be  seven  thousand  effectives.  '^ 

Various  reasons  determine  this  point.  The  enemT 
have  never  had  in  the  field,  for  the  defence  of  Mai- 
den,  more  than  two  thousand  men.  Their  number 
has  no  doubt  been  hitherto  limited  by  their  means  of 
subsistence,  and  this  cause  is  not  likelv  to  suffer  any 
very  material  chanee  in  their  favor  during  the  ensuing 
campaign.  More  than  seven  thousand  men,  therefore, 
would  be  unnecessary  on  our  part.  Again :  to  main- 
tain a  greater  number,  would  be  impracticable,  in  the 
present  state  of  the  treasury. 

It  now  remairs  only  to  signify  to  you,  clearly  and 
distinctly,  the  kind  of  force  the  government  mean, 
hereafter  to  employ  in  offensive  operations,  if  ii  c«l 
be  obtained.  '^  ' 

When  the  legislature,  at  their  last  session,  adopted 
the  measure  of  augmenting  the  army  to  fifty-two  regi'- 
ments  of  the  line,  it  was  expressly  in  the  view  of  su- 
perceding hereafter  the  necessity  of  employing  mrlitiai 
excepting  in  moments  of  actual  invasion.  £i  obedl^ 
«nce  to  this  policy,  the  president  assigned  to  the  8Ch 
military  district  of  the  United  States  four  of  these  new 
regiments,  which,  if  filled,  and  superadded  to  the  two 
regiments  of  the  line  now  in  that  district,  and  theS4th 
in  march  for  it,  will  give  a  total  of  seven  regiments, 
or  seven  thousand  men.  This  number  forbids  the  be- 
lief, that  any  employment  of  militia  drafts  will  be  ne- 
cessary, when  it  shall  have  been  coilerted.  Till, 
however,  this  be  done,  or  at  least  till  time  be  given 
for  the  experiment,  so  many  militia  only  are  to  be 
called  out,  as  shall  be  necessary  for  the  defence  of 
your  posts  )n  the  Miami,  and  of  your  depots  of  pro- 
vision on  the  lake.  And  should  the  reciniitiug  service 
go  on  less  fortunately  in  the  patriotic  states  of  Ken- 
tucky and  Ohio,  than  iri  other  parts  of  the  union,  you 
are  in  that  case,  and  in  that  case  only,  authorized  to 

10 


Him 


ft^! 


>-- 


-•>--y-  ^-^...,  ^  -•/»'• 


74 


[94] 


call  out  80  many  militia  drafts  as  will  make  good  the 
deficiency ;  and  organizing  these  under  the  rules  al- 
ready prescribed,  await  the  farther  orders  of  the  pre- 
sident in  your  camp  at  the  Rapidn. 
» '  To  these  orders  I  have  to  aud,  that  you  will  regard 
it  as  your  duty  to  keep  this  department  regularly  and 
frequently  informed  of  the  actual  condition  of  tlie 
troops  under  your  command ;  as  well  in  regard  to 
equipment  and  supplies  of  provision  and  ammunition, 
as  to  number,  discipline,  and  health ;  and  that  your 
weekly  and  monthly  reports  shall  include  also  the 
state  of  the  ordnance  and  quarter  master's  depart- 
ments, noting  particularly  the  nuinl)er  of  horses  and 
oxen  employed  by  botii.  You  will  readily  perceive 
ihc  necessity  for  giving  this  order,  when  I  state,  that 
no  return  of  any  description  from  your  division  of  the 
army  has  ever  been  received  at  the  adjutant  general's 
office.  Your  proportion  of  the  new  staff  has  been 
given  to  you.  Captain  Adams  has  been  appointed 
assistant  adjutant  general,  and  Mr.  Bartlett  depu- 
ty quarter  master  general  of  your  division.  The 
brigadier  generals  M^ Arthur  and  Cass  are  employed 
m  superintending  the  recruiting  service.  A  letter 
from  the  latter  gives  reason  to  believe,  that  this  will 
go  on  well  in  the  state  of  Ohio.    '■  -.  3..'  ^- * 

.     ',       I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  'i'-^\^^^ 
Your  most  obedient  servant, 
JOHN  ARMSTRONG,  -ft 

Major  General  Harrison,  .* 

Com.  the  8th  Military  District,  U.  S. 


-'^f 
..~\ 


Extracts  of  a  letter  from  Major  General  Harrison  to 
the  Secretary  of  War,  dated 

■       .,  HEAD-QfUARTERS,  CAMP  MEIGS,      ^v 

>  April  21,  1818.  ■ 

'    '^  The  plan  for  future  operations,  as  laid  down 
in  your  letter  of  the  4th,  is  no  doubt  the  best  that 


Midlk.. 


, '    -^ 


tliat 


r^ 


4^: 


[M] 


70 


w*i#r 


could  have  been  devised  in  the  event  of  the  promised 
naval  success,  and  a  prosperous  issue  to  the  recruiting 
business.  My  measures  will  therefore  be  entirely 
directed  to  the  prosecution  of  the  campaign  in  that 
way. 

<<  There  is  nothing  to  be  feai'ed  as  to  the  ulterior 
operations  of  the  campaign.  '^''^ ' '  ^'  : 

^*  I  shall  cause  the  movements  of  the  enemy  to  be 
narrowly  watched ;  but  in  the  event  of  their  landing 
at  Lower  Sandusky,  that  post  cannot  be  saved.  I  will 
direct  it,  in  such  an  event,  to  be  evacuated.  The 
stores  there  are  not  of  much  consequence,  excepting 
about  000  stands  of  arms,  which  I  will  cause  to  be 
removed  as  soon  as  the  roads  are  practicable — at  prer 
sent  it  is  impossible.'^ 


'l>  <!• 


t  '.s'l 


♦•S.j'f-^v' 


:^t. 


.^t  •  '•• 


».• 


.XJA.I^, 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  the  Secretary  of  War  to 
Major  General  William  H.  Harrison,  dated 


2i 


i\<-i' 


WAR  DEPARTMENT, 

Mays,  1813. 


'''•  *'  Your  letters  of  the  Slst  and  S5th  ultimo  have 
been  received.  I  never  meant  that  you,  or  your  artil- 
lery, or  stores  for  the  campaign,  now  collected  at  fort 
Meigs,  should  be  brought  back  to  Cleveland  for  em- 
barkation. My  intention  was,  that  the  boats  built 
tliere  should  move  along  the  coast  in  the  wake  of  the 
fleet  to  Sandusky,  or  to  the  very  foot  of  the  rapids,  if 
that  were  practicable  and  expedient,  taking  in  on  the 
route  what  was  wanted.  The  boats  building  and 
built  by  major  Jesup  are  not  decked,  but  strong  and 
high  sided,  and  very  competent  to  the  navigation  of 
the  lake,  particularly  between  the  chain  of  islands  and 
the  west  shore.''  ?,  j 


i 


i'^l 


i 


"m 

If  A 


Ilk 
'■i\  "-il 


m 


mi 


■m 


[sq 


*s 


t,    ■Jt.iV-' 


fim^  flf  #  letter  from  the  Secretary  i^*  War  to 
M<^or  Q»naral  WiUiam  H.  Harrison^  dated 


<: '  i't-'.:'\    ^ 


WAR  DEPARTMENT, 

/         May  21, 1813. 

.  ■  .:'■'  _  . ■  ■  •  - , ;  ■  •._  ■  „ . V-  i'.  i^^  M^'A^^i^:^. ^:i^i-=*^ ; • 
^^  Tour  future  requisitions  for  ordnance  sterei 
will  1>e  governed  by  the  quantity  on  hand  at  fort 
Meigs  and  FvMikliAton,  and  by  the  number  and  cali- 
bres of  the  pieces  you  profMise  to  tako  with  you  against 
Maiden.  Your  whole  train,  if  I  am  well  informed, 
apounts  to  thirty.five  ^eces,  of  which  nine  are 
eighteen  pounders,     -r.j-'.  .^u^-ic.  l  >,-^.:^jr?:.-'t:.a  k**'^ 

<^  The  ^th  regiment  was,  on  the  iOili  instant,  at 
Lexington,  (Kentucky)  on  their  way  to  Cleveland. 
iTou  will  g?ve  it  any  other  point  of  rendezvous  you 
may  think  proper,  and  adopt  such  means  to  assemble 
the  other  parts  of  your  division  as  will  be  most  advise* 
able.  On  this  head,  I  would  but  suggest,  that  the  ar« 
rangement  which  shall  best  mask  your  real  design 
and  most  impress  the  enemy  with  a  belief  that  your 
march  to  Maiden  will  be  by  land,  will  be  the  best. 

<^  Clothing  for  the  26th,  27th  and  28th  regiments 
has  been  forwarded  from  Philadelphia. 

'<'  The  last  accounts  of  the  boats  preparing  by  major 
Jesup  were  favorable.  That  officer  will  uecessarilj 
report  to  you  and  take  your  orders."  ^^ 


MMflrttet  ef  a  letter  from  the  Secretary  of  War  to 
Major  Greneral  Harrison,  dated 

WAR   DEPARTMENT, 

July  14, 1813. 

<' Orders  have  been  sent  to  cqttain  Ferry  to 
commumcate  to  you  the  naval  movements,  and  to  con- 
cert with  you  the  necessary  co-opprations. 


13. 


[54] 


^^^ 

JP 


<'  Of  the  miMa,  you  are  authorized  to  take  wbat 
in  your  jndsment  will  be  necessary.  Such  of  the 
Kentucky  muitia  as  are  in  service  would  be  better 
than  a  new  draft.  There  is  (of  the  Pennsylvania 
militia)  one  regiment  at  Erie  armed,  equipped,  &c. 
These  are  subjected  to  your  command." 


m-: 


WAR  DEPARTMENT, 

August  5,  1813. 


SIR, 


The  best  interpretation  of  the  late  movements  of 
the  enemy  in  your  quarter  is,  that  De  Rottenberg  has 
detached  to  the  aid  of  Proctor  between  four  and  five 
hundi'ed  men,  and  that  with  these  he  is  attempting  to 
save  Maiden  by  attacking  fort  Meigs.  If  this  con- 
jecture be  well  founded,  it  suggests  the  true  policy 
on  our  part,  provided  the  ftotilla  was  over  the  bar. 
Gro  directly  to  Maiden  and  leave  Mr.  Proctor  to 
amuse  himself  with  fort  Meigs.  There  is  no  objec- 
tion to  your  appointing  the  Serjeants  to  other  offices 
pro  tempore.  Captain  Butler  has  been  appointed 
major  of  the  3^  regiment  and  lieutenant  M^Gee  cap- 
tain in  the  4Sd.  , 
I  am,  sir,  - 
•                  Very  respectfully. 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  ABMSTEONa 

Major  General  Harrison. 


. :  r'r.'jr 


m 


Ea^ract  of  a  letter  from  Major  General  William  H, 
Harrison  to  the  Secretary  at  War,  dated 

HEAD  QUARTERS,  SENECA  TOWN, 

August  22,  1813. 

^'  I  am  exerting  every  nerve  to  complete  my  pre- 
parations for  crossing  the  lake,  as  soon  as  I  am  rein- 


'■''^niT'y^  "^ 


■  *%' 


P 


[84] 


forced  by  two  thousand  of  the  Kentucky  militia. 
That  number  is  indispensable,  from  the  sickly  state  of 
the  regular  troops,  of  whom  I  shall  think  myself  for- 
tunate  to  take  with  me  two-fifths  of  the  ag^gate 

amount.''.H?'?^>'^  "?''tv'?'«r:ft' ''^'.^^    '^;  '-'f^vi: "::  '^^*-   -'^.■■*;i^' 


■c}i^.:^i^W']  '^-^y  ■'^;d 


m-* 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  Major  General  Hannson  to 
•     :   ' '    the  Secretary  of  War,  dated         ^    , 


•r  ;M  •  --i-       -li^ 


tS.'-'     ■■'i- 


■>  ^  i 


HEAD  QUARTERS,  SENECA  TOWN, 

August  39,  1813.     ;  j^ 


<^  I  shall  be  able  to  embark  some  day  between 
the  10th  and  15th  procimo,  with  upwards  of  2000  re- 
gular troops,  and  3000  militia.  Every  exertiov  has 
been,  and  is  continued  to  be  made,  to  prepare  for  the 
contemplated  offensive  operations;  but,  as  we  could 
not  navigate  the  lake  until  our  flotilla  came  up,  nov  ac- 
cumulate at  any  point  on  its  margin,  the  stores  thai 
were  at  Upper  Sandusky  and  fort  Winchester,  d'  - 
ing  Proctor's  late  invasion,  it  will  take  the  time  I  have 
mentioned  before  the  embarkation  can  be  effected.  It 
might  be  facilitated  by  moving  the  troops  that  are  here 
immediately  to  the  lake,  and  then  waiting  'or  the  Ken- 
tucky militia.  But  so  extremely  unhealthy  ib  the 
w  hole  of  the  southern  shore,  from  Huron  to  the  river 
Raisin,  that  the  most  fatal  effects  would  follow  the 
keeping  the  troops  upon  it,  even  for  a  few  days.  You 
can  form  a  coiTect  estimate  of  the  dreadful  effects  of 
the  immense  body  of  stagnant  water,  with  which  the 
vicinity  of  the  lake  abounds,  from  the  state  of  the 
troops  at  Lower  Sandusky.  Upwards  of  ninety  are 
this  morning  reported  on  the  sick  list,  out  of  about 
two  hundred  and  twenty.  Those  at  jfort  Meigs  are 
not  much  better."' 


Ei 


mc 


* 


'f^^Wr-'"  \;p:;j"'  '.>■-*,  •^''.^ 


79 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  Major  General  William 
H.  Harrison  to  the  Secretary  of  Warj  dated 

- 'm.. 

'  i^l^i/^' '4 /.HEAD  QUARTERS,  BASS  ISLAND,        j>^:^ 

:>*■''   ^''^;r^.u.v.t4^^-^  -hir  .  September  22d,  1813.  ■.  - 

.5*1  ti  The  greater  part  of  the  troops  are  here  with 
me,  and  the  whole  will,  I  believe,  be  up  by  twelve 
o'clock.  I  shall  proceed  as  far  as  the  Middle  Bistev 
in  the  course  of  to-night  and  tu-morrow,  and  in  the 
following  night  get  so  near  the  enemy's  coast  as  to  land 
two  or  three  miles  below  Maiden  by  eight  o'clock  in 
the  morning.  These  prospects  may,  however,  be  re- 
tarded by  adverse  winds.  Commodore  Perry  gives 
me  every  assistance  in  his  power,  but  his  crews  were 
so  much  cut  up  in  the  late  action,  that  he  cannot  navi- 
gate his  vessels  without  the  aid  of  my  men."  ^  1 


m 


^^■^ 


M.- 


,   r^ 


( 


■H.-  '■ 


aiR, 


WAR  DBPARtMENT,  SACKETT's  HARBOIt, 

September  SS,  1813. 


. .  Information  has  reached  me  through  various 
but  unofficial  channels,  that  commodore  Perry  had 
captured  the  whole  of  the  British  fleet  on  Uice  Erie. 
If  this  be  true,  it  is  matter  01  much  personal  and  pub- 
lie  congratulation.  It  enahles  you  to  make  sure  of 
Maiden,  and  as  a  bulisequent  measure,  to  carry  ymv 
main  body  down  the  lake,  and  by  throwing  yourself 
into  De  Kottenberg's  rear,  to  compel  Jiim  to  quit  his 
new  positions  before  fort  George.  After  general  Wil- 
kinson shall  have  left  that  place,  there  will  be  found 
on  the  two  sides  of  the  Niagara,  a  force  amounting  to 
three  thousand  men,  who  will  be  subjected  to  your 
orders.  By  giving  this  new  direction  to  your  opera- 
tions, you  will  readily  perceive  of  \\o\v  mucli  more  im- 
portance it  is,  in  the  opinion  of  the  executive,  to  be 


80 


[6*] 


able  to  expel  the  enemy  from  the  couMti'y  lymg  be- 
tween the  two  lakes  Erie  and  Ontario,  than  to  puraue 
the  Indians  into  their  woody  and  distant  recesses.^  A 
few  days  will  put  us  in  motion  from  this  point. 

c-      -  ■   •<-     Accept  my  best  wishes,  &c. 

;f  :    '  JOHN  ARMSTRONG. 


General  Harrison. 


«**'; 

i^ 


•^ 


1."  :-. 


K , 


■1    ' 


^M 


'■■         ;  (■  HEAD  QUARTES,  AMHERSTBURGH^ 

/^       '       :  September  27, 1813.       l/^ 

sill,  .  -'  '.         ■'-'''  ^    '' 

I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you,  that  I  land- 
ed the  army  tinder  my  command  about  three  miles 
below  this  place,  at  three  o'clock  this  evening,  with- 
out opposition,  and  took  possession  of  the  town  in 
an  hour  after.  General  Proctor  has  retreated  to 
Sandwich  with  liis  regular  troops  and  Indians,  hav- 
ing previously  burned  the  fort,  navy  yard,  barracks, 
and  public  store  houses.  The  two  latter  were 
very  extensive,  covering  several  acres  of  gi'ound.  I 
will  pursue  the  enemy  to-moiTOw,  although  there  is 
Yio  probability  of  overtaking  him,  as  he  has  upwards 
of  1,000  horses,  and  we  have  not  one  in  the  army. 
I  shall  think  myself  fortunate  to  be  able  to  collect  a 
sufficiency  to  mount  the  general  officers.  It  is  sup- 
posed here  tliat  general  Proctor  intends  to  establish 
hiouielf  upon  the  river  French,  40  miles  from  Maiden. 

'*^.    t'       I  have  ihe  honor  to  be, 
/.fv     -     .  With  great  respect,  . 

Your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

■ft..    .,:    1  .        ;     >'        ■  ' 

^    V  WILUAM  HENRY  HARRISON. 


John  Armstrong,  Esq. 

Secretary  of  War. 


■Y-'^'-:Y''^"'f''^'''.^f-"  "•'' ."'^  ;■*;' 


*• -w-        .^y. 


■ .'..  ^ 


■-'  *,«*fc;j        ^jj^l^Jt^  '.1=ii  '^^  'V*- 


J^xtract  of  a  letter  from  Major  General  WiUiam  A 
Harrison  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  dated     ^. 

HEADQUARTERS,  ^ 

Jfjear  Moravian  towrit  on  the  river  Tharn^, 
\".  80  miles  frcnn  Detroit, 

'      A  October  5, 1818.  4 

*'  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you,  that  by  the 
blessing  of  Providence,  the  army  under  my  command 
has  this  evening  obtained  a  complete  victory  over  the 
combined  Indian  and  British  forces  under  the  com. 
mand  of  general  Proctor.  I  believe  that  nearly  the 
w^bole  of  the  enemy's  regulars  are  taken  or  killed ; 
amongst  the  former  are  all  the  superior  officers,  excepU 
ing  general  Proctor.  My  mounted  men  are  now  in 
pursuit  of  him.    Our  loss,  is  ve^ry  trifling." 


ilH 


Extracts  of  a  letter  from  Major  General  HarriaQn  to 
the  Secretary  of  War,  dated    ,;;  ^   ' 


HEAD  QUARTERS,  DETROIT, 

October  16, 1813, 

^^  A  detachment  of  the  army,  under  the  comniahidi 
of  brigadier  general  M^Arthur,  has  been  for  some 
days  waiting  at  this  place  for  the  necessary  provision^ 
to  proceed  to  lake  Michigan.  I  am  sorry  to  inform 
you,  however,  that  from  the  effects  of  a  violent  storiQ^ 
there  i3  now  no  prospect  of  accomplishing  that  desr* 
rable  object,  the  reduction  of  Michilimackinac,  ihm 
season.  It  is  with  the  greatest  regret  I  inform  yoi^ 
that  it  is  almost  reduced  to  a  certainty,  that  two  of  odr 
schooners  have  been  lost  on  lake  Eric,  the  Chippew  a^ 
and  Ohio ;  the  former  loaded  with  the  baggage  of  the 
troops  from  Bass  island,  the  lattiw  with  flour  and  sft)| 
provisions  from  Cleaveland." 


y 


.  '  ;-' T.,,Tr^".1?r  S  ^■-i'n': 


W^: 


.'•*  ,;''»J«: 


4V,-is' 


M 


■te;. 


'■•d... 


*'Upon  a  j:.ii9ultation  with  the  two  brigadiers  and 
commodore  Perry  and  captain  Elliott;  it  was  unani- 
mously  determined,  that  the  season  is  too  far  advanced 
to  attempt  an  expedition  to  Maccinac,  if  it  were  not 
commenced  in  two  or  three  days,  and  there  was  no 
hope  of  the  snpplias  being  obtained  in  that  time." 

"  It  is  generally  believed  here,  that  general  Proctor 
despatched  an  order  to  the  commanding  officer  at 
Maccinac  to  destroy  the  post  and  retreat  by  the  way 
of  Grand  river.  At  any  rate,  it  is  not  a  matter  of 
much  importance  to  have  that  place  in  our  possession 
during  the  winter,  cut  off  as  it  h  from  a  communica- 
tion with  the  rest  of  the  world." 


-  '■■.■i^r-'^'.i'-.'  •^'' 


.  ^'J 


81H, 


sackett's  harbor, 

October  SO,  1813. 


The  enemy *s  corps  before  fort  George  broke  up 
their  cantonments  on  the  9th,  and  marched  rapidly  for 
Burlington  bay,  which  he  reached  on  the  11th.  By 
taking,^this  route  he  may  intend  to  reinforce  Proctor 
on  the  river  French,  or  Kingston,  at  the  head  of  the 
St.  Lawrence.  He  was  apprized  of  the  abandonment 
of  Maiden  on  the  5th. 

,  We  are  perhaps  too  remote  to  profit  by  each  others 
suggestions ;  but  it  does  not  appear  to  me,  that  Sand- 
wich is  the  point  at  which  Proctor  will  stop,  if  you 
pursue  him.  From  Point  aux  Pins,  on  lake  Erie, 
there  is  a  good  road  to  Chatham,  on  the  Thames,  the 
distance  not  more  than  twenty-four  miles.  Were  this 
gained,  and  travelled  back  to  Sandwich,  the  enemy's 
means  of  subsistence  might  be  destroyed,  and  himself 
compelled  to  surrender.  But  of  the  practicability  of 
this,  you  are  the  best  judge. .  My  opinion  is  sug* 
gested  by  the  map. 


U.^:,  ■ 


.:  ).-if-.    ...;>-.  _»V^i;twtf. .■•■,"' v- 


» 


rne, 
the 


r 


'*.  -r 


The  first  division  of  this  army  sailed  two  dayg  agb. 
The  second  and  the  lesevvc  follow  to-day.       ^        ^^ 

Yours  with  great  respect,  ■^: 

J.  ARMSTRONG.  ^ 


;.i,^^.  ....u 


Major  General  Harrison. 


jjExtract  of  a  letter  from  Major  General  Harrison  to 


yian 
oh 


the  Secretary  of  War^  dated 


.  "^ 


HEAD  QUARTERS,  ERIE,  PA. 

October  2S,  1813.    . 

*'  Soon  after  my  letter  to  you  of  the  16th  instant 
was  written,  I  was  informed  tliat  a  special  messenger^ 
with  despatches  from  you,  had  left  Bass  island  in  the 
schooner  Cliippewa,  which  had  been  driven  from  the 
mouth  of  the  Detroit  river  in  a  violent  storm ;  and 
from  the  circumstance  of  a  quantity  of  baggage  be- 
longing  to  the  oflBcers,  which  was  known  to  have  been 
t)n  board,  being  found  on  the  lake  shore,  she  was  be- 
lieved to  have  been  lost.  As  I  had  nearly  completed 
the  arrangement  for  a  suspension  of  hostilities  with 
the  Indians,  altiiough  I  had  no  information  as  to  the 
movement  of  the  army  on  lake  Ontario,  I  determined 
to  embark  general  M>  Arthurs  brigade  and  the  batta. 
lion  of  the  United  States  riflemen,  and  pi-oceed  with 
tlicm  down  the  lake  until  I  could  receive  some  certain 
information  of  the  movements  of  the  army  under  ge- 
neral Wilkinson,  and  what  was  expected  from  me.  I 
arrived  here  this  mornnig  with  commodore  Perry  in 
the  Ariel,  having  left  the  remainder  of  the  fleet  at 
Bass  island.  It  is  ])robable  they  will  be  here  this 
.evening,  when  wc  shall  immediately  proceed  to  Bnf- 
feloe/'  V    ^M.* 


m 


1 


m 


y 


m 


-■■'    .t*VTCA;^ 


a^r« 


[8*3 


Extract  of  a  letter fi*om  Major  General  Harrison 
to  the  Secretary  of  War,  dated 


.»  WV' 


^- 


#« 


•<*« 


HEAD  QUARTERS,  BUFFALOE,  N.  Y. 

October  24, 1813. 


'^  I  have  this  moment  landed  at  this  place,  from 
lOU  board  the  schooner  Ariel,  which  is  one  of  seven 
vessels,  with  which  I  left  Detroit,  having  on  board  the 
greater  part  of  M^ Arthur's  brigade,  and  the  detach- 
ment of  the  United  States'  rifle  regiment,  under  col. 
Bmith.    The  other  vessels  are  all,  I  believe,  in  sight, 
and  will  be  up  in  a  short  time.     The  aggi*egate  num- 
ber of  troops  with  me,  is  about  thirteen  hundred,  but 
not  more  tlian  one  thousand  fit  for  duty.     Before  this 
reaches  you,  you  will  no  doubt  be  informed  of  the 
loss  of  your  messenger,  captain  Brown,  with  the  des- 
patches that  were  entrusted  with  him.     Not  having 
Received  your  directions,  and  being  entirely  ignorant 
Qf  the  state  of  our  militai*y  operations  in  this  quarter,  I 
was  much  at  a  loss  to  know  how  to  proceed ;  but  be- 
Jiieving  that  general  Cass  with  his  brigade  would  be 
able  to  secure  Detroit  and  our  adjacent  conquests, 
after  having  concluded  an  armistice  with  the  greater 
part  of  the  hostile  tribes,  I  concluded  that  I  could  not 
'do  better  than  to  move  down  the  lake  with  the  remain- 
ing part  of  the  troops.     A  part  of  M* Arthur's  bri- 
gade  is  still  at  the  Bass  Islands,  where  they  were 
left  for  the  want  of  the  means  of  conveyanqe ;  and  a 
considerable  portion  of  their  baggage  was  also  left 
from  the  same  cause.     Means,  however,  have  been 
taken  to  collect  and  bring  them  on. 

"  I  shall  move  down  the  troops  immediately  to  fort 
Geoi^e,  where  1  shall  await  your  orders,  unless  an 
opportunity  should  previously  occur  of  striking  at  the 
enemy.  The  information  I  have  received  here  of  the 
situation  and  movements  of  the  enemy  on  the  head  of 
lake  Ontario,  is  vague  and  contradictory," 


Sll 


yo 


i^ 


li^dir 


r.  Y. 


from 
even 
dthe 
tach- 
col. 
ight, 

inuni. 

.  but 
this 

rthe 
lies- 


pJ4] 


» 


■■■J^^-^.'^^^^    WAR  DEPARTMENT,  VrlLNA,  /t^, 

• '"  '*■*  '  "^^ "     '     ^:'  '■'' -.>  ..y:^^'  October  30,  1813. ' 

»iK,      ..4  * '  ■  •■•  ^"  . ;  '/'■  "\       '■*■  .Vk'  ^  ^' 

*    I  have  i!,e  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
your  letters  of  the  5th  and  of  the  S4th  instant. 

The  despatch  by  captain  Brown,  and  which  with 
him  was  lost  in  lake  Erie,  suggested,  as  an  ulterior 
movement,  the  coming  down  to  tiie  Niagara  river, 
and  putting  yourself  on  the  right  and  rear  of  De 
llo^ten'»erg's  position  before  fort  George  ;  while  ge- 
neral M'Ciure,  with  his  brigade  of  militia,  volun- 
teers and  Indians,  should  approach  them  in  front. 
Tiie  enemy  seems  to  have  been  aware  of  this,  or  of 
some  similar  movement,  as  he  began  his  retreat  on 
the  9th  and  did  not  stop  until  he  had  gained  the  head 
of  Burlington  bay,  wliere  I  understand,  by  report, 
he  yet  is.  Tliis  is  his  last  strong  hold  in  the  Penin- 
sula. Routed  from  tliis,  he  must  surrender  or  make 
his  way  down  lake  Ontario  to  Kingston.  His  force 
is  estimated  at  twelve  or  fifteen  hundred  effectives. 
The  capture  or  destruction  of  this  corps  would  be  a 
glorious  finale  to  your  campaign.  Our  operations  in 
this  quarter  are  but  beginnings  at  a  time  when  they 
ought  to  have  ended, 

1  shall  go  on  slowly  ic    ards  Utica,  where  I  may 
have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  adjutant  general  Gaines. 
I  am,  sir,  very  rsepectfuUy,  "^j 

Your  most  obedient  servant,      .'■ 

JOHN  ABMSTIiONq, 


m 


Major  Gen.  Harrison. 


Extract  of  a  letter  fro  v  Hie  Secretary  at   Wart^ 
General  Harrison,  dated 

BOONSViLLE,  November  3, 181^. 

"  I  have  fortunately  met  colonel  Gaines  on  fli^ 
way  to  his  regimer*.     The  deputy  pay  master  »hf|,tl 


m 


m 


86 


..vr^i'    -kX 


.  'A» 


have  orders  to  attend  to  the  bricade  you  have  brought 
mit  ^  i  u.  ( 'aptoin  Butler  will  ar '  as  your  assistant 
adjutant  general,  and  Mliall  receive  appointment  as 
«uch.  l^e  officers  of  tlie  several  corps  composing 
your  division  (as  well  those  at  fort  George  an  of  ge- 
neral Cass's  brigade),  not  indispensable  to  tlie  com- 
mand of  the  troops  now  in  the  field,  should  be  immet 
diately  despatched  on  the  recruiting  service.  I  need 
not  invoke  your  attention  to  a  subject  so  important  to 
the  early  and  successful  opening  of  the  next  campaign, 
and  to  the  extent  and  character  of  your  particular 
command.  Will  the  whole  of  Cass's  brigade  be 
wanted  to  the  westward?  In  the  event  of  a  peace 
with  the  savages  a  less  force  would  be  sufficient;  and, 
to  hasten  and  secure  this  event,  the  present  moment 
and  present  impressions  mui^t  be  seized.  Of  the  war- 
riors, sueing  for  peace,  one  or  more  should  be  sent  by 
the  nearest  route,  and  by  the  most  exjieditious  mode^ 
to  the  Creek  nation.  The  story  of  their  defeat  by 
yo»i,  and  subsequent  abandonment  by  the  British, 
com??>.i  luicated  by  themsch  cs,  would  probably  have  a 
f!  fisU'd  effect  on  their  red  brethren  of  the  south,  and 
&:i\'(j  us  the  troulde  and  expense  of  beating  them  into 
a  sense  of  their  own  interest.  When  I  wrote  to  you 
from  Wilna,  it  w  as  doubtful  whetlier  our  attack  would 
be  made  directly  upon  Kingston  or  upon  Montreal. 
Reasons  exist  for  prefering  the  hitter  course,  and  have 
probably  determined  general  Wilkinson  to  go  down 
the  St.  Lawrence.  In  this  case,  the  enemy  will  bave 
at  Kingston,  besides  his  i9eet,  a  garrison  of  twelve  or 
fourteen  hundred  men.  Had  we  not  a  corps  in  the 
neighbourhood,  these  might  do  mischief,  and  even 
render  insecure  the  winter  station  of  our  fleet.  To 
prevent  this  it  is  deemed  adviseable  to  draw  together 
at  Sackett's  Harbor  a  considerable  military  force. 
There  are  now  at  that  post  between  four  and  five  hun- 
dred men  of  all  descriptions — sick,  convalescent  and 
effective.  Colonel  Scott's  detachment  (about  700) 
are  on  tbeur  march  thither,  and  it  is  barely  possible 


"^kji 


as 


tlMit  colonel  Raiido1pb'»(not  arriving  in  (imc  to  move 
with  the  armv)  may  be  there  also.  ThiN  does  not 
exceed  three  hundred  and  fifty.  M^Arthur^s  brigade 
added  to  these  will  make  a  for^^f^  entirely  competent 
to  our  object.  To  hring  this  bri^  Je  down  the  lake 
you  must  have  the  aid  t'f  ije  fleet,  which  will  he 
readily  given  by  cjinm<)«lore  Chauncey.  On  this 
point  I  shall  write  to   .in        *    '^gb'-^^  ^  communica- 


tion with  you  in  relation  to 

'*  This  new  dispositi 
employment  of  so  man^ 
now  in  service  under  genr 

deem  competent  to  the  safe-Kteping  of  forts  George 
and  Niagara  and  their  dependencies." 


reader  necessary  the 
'Uiiu  and  volunteers, 
''Clure,  as  yoii  may 


■I*'". 


HEAD  QUARTKHS,  NEWARK,        •'  -l^f 

November  16,  1813. 


SIR, 


Commodore  Chauncey  with  the  fleet  arrived 
here  yesterday  morning,  and  informed  me  that  he  was 
ready  to  receive  the  troops  to  convey  them  down  the 
lake ;  and  that  the  season  was  so  far  advanced,  ren- 
dering the  navigation  dangerous  to  the  smaller  ves- 
sels, that  it  was  desirable  they  should  be  embarked  as 
expeditiously  as  possible.  As  a  very  small  part  of 
tiie  militia  and  \iiluntecrs  had  arrived,  and  the  situa- 
tion of  Sackett's  Harbor  appearing  to  me  to  require 
immediate  rein/oi cement,  I  did  not  think  proper  t(» 
take  upon  myself  the  responsibility  of  postponing  the 
departure  of  the  troops  for  the  lower  part  of  the  lake, 
conformably  to  the  directions  contained  in  your  letter 
of  the  3d  instant. 

<*  The  information  I  received  yesterday  from  two 
respectable  citizens  that  were  taken  near  to  fort  Meigs 
in  June  last,  and  who  made  their  escape  in  an  open 
boat  from  Burlington,  confirms  me  in  the  prajpriety  of 


■ii'; ! 


Ml 


:;?' 


^^. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


A 


4^ 


1.0 


I.I 


21    115 


^  y^ 


2f  134    I™ 
^  U£    12.0 


'•2^lll'-^ '-^ 

< 

6"     

► 

* 


¥^^'.<^  '''^ 


^ 


'-ijr 


7 


Photographic 

Sciences 

COTporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14380 

(716)872-4503 


■^ 

>  . 
^ 

o 


y 


•,t 


F:;.f 


iXtbtli  set  oiit  thit  6veiii|^e  f<n^  HiiB  sent 


}1?iMrttt 


■^'-    ■■.. 


■  .-^  I 


f 


•:1   "- 


'""  ''•v'-.C' 


-» 


C'    'i; 


%<^: 


( 


••  ^^:^" 


.r  ■'":*. 


DHuty 


■1-  =?"i 


'4? 


4-^ 


.  ;-#,-)'t^W  ^^^%1% 


ifi^i,!- 


confid^iiil  be  eiwily  ]|ifli«d.  I  we  ^refore  mj^tet^ 

j||Mt  general  reipdezvotis  Qtv^amAm^^vi^^     ^^v ' 
1  Imvetbelumor  of  iiid«itiAfe4y|^  l^iia^ii  Hii 

Cufiada  wHl,  I  have  no  doubt,  catl  fortf  a  Ui^  «il^^ 
to  our  staivdardy  and'thoy  will  be  imniBdiately  afwMi- 
edto  the  hiMtel  quarters  ottbe  nortli-westefn  anny^  in 
smdb  bodlf»;C8  wHl  best  facilitate  their  movefiieiits ; 

wfii^#if:^  #i6y  jCiMD^       as  foot  m;  nuNittted;  as  cb:f 
-eiunstftnces  may'reqiure^  ■■.;...^.^'  \i-<!\.  ... '  ^-*'-:^:. 

denion  tbisffiunecl  n 


>j|g^«^  ppvJKib  ^ 


MTTIO^ 


/a. 


ISAAC  SH)BaL!kt.^> 


•:^/-t;  W'>,;  -,.*,  ..-■>,  ■^_-    ■♦- 


■■?-> 


■}^-/ 


:A(\. '.r.  «>;>-■  <iiJ  >■:,  i  :;.:f^iJ;     'v-Vj.-Ml  ■.:    . 


I  IfWv^  tti' |IW*|  *|]^'  fc.^  ficc.  it<s.  ■ . 
fihTinitinfT   ' 

<if Hie  above^at  tb»  wwr  office,.  Ipirv  traa^awMili  to  |L0ijf- 


^^/  » 


■^ 


?  ■ 


■*  > 


h    ,■  •••■>.  ■ 


fi» 


»-l-lX^T™  r.^»~'S*.' 


totter 


V.   ; 


tt»^^- 


lie 


si'* 
w  ■ 


0  Kwb^ 

Sin.  ^ 

1  have 


■■H"x^ 


i 


*•!; 

'■S' 


YllHlflKBoM  'fVRr ' ' 

%^|jB  ii9<BeiMi|j7  lir^i^attoQ  relft^  to  Uiefir  Altr^^ilv 


'War-; 


1^ 
*    > 

% 

^••,. 

I^.'- 

;w 

9»  Exe«U«DOf  Ihuic  Shelbn 


Si^ii.,       ?W 


J- 


,■  —.•('*■-"  ■^-  ■«i'^:  *      t  v-i^  ■ 


'2  i?" 

-I 


""Tf-jf-y,  ';!tr;;  ;" 


jt; 


tr: 


Um^^i^^f  <^  to  <lr»w  Wijil^iiiMm  to  tlm  .wfs#t^  sti^ 

it.    wllkinsoit  bas  g(me  on  t(^  fort  Oeorge  to  tmilte^ 
pmf^.>~  Tm%  impfvmoii'milxk  ike  iske^tbr 


v:»S'' 


*r.'*!i 


CAMP^ 


!■ 


BURLIN6TON9 

8epteiober7>i8i8. 


^•iV 


Ifoiir  letter  of  tbip  ist  initftiif  <!«iiitf  td  haiid>  1^ 
expiress,  th^  las^  evening.  My  diflpoflitions  for  « 
moyement  had  been  shaped  to  meet  tne  arraB|$e]iieiit 
cottdHunicated  in  mj  lettter  of  ^  Blst  ultoo ;  ^t  I 
caiied  tdgetber  tW  beads  of^  departii^ents  this  inoming 
to  kno#bbw  fur  it  wotttd  be  ^practicable  to  an^ipate 
that  wbie^  ^ou  bad  indicated  in  your  despatch  o/tbe, 
^9th^  iiad  il  "vras  foaiid  ^practidyble. 


:5S*«'5 


•I'' 


"  •  >.: 


M'  ■     Ifl 


ui('~y'/M: 


*€. 


¥, 


l#«rp^t  n«p9#ti^        not  «rnit«4k  Tl, 

9immi1^  optlbr  t0  nifeir  mi#rd,  at  eaHv  W  |bt , 

iili.]lMltn#i  I  mliii  «b<irCy  %vilig  iibw  le««  tiiui «%/ 
itl^^iil^fli^e  in  tlie  cavtildle  boxesi    Ihit  #bftt  i| 

mmt  for.  lie  I^il^  triaspi'tikiidii^  is  <4ia|NsNt  to.  we 
^(I^,ail4^4^iim6t)be  imti^  ao  earUiei^  dav,      ; 

liiix  Joik,  if  ^01  <^  the  ^pltbii;   ti^  a|y^^ 
idliiieiise  iirail^r  iUftdi^Miiiiit  be  a^riMMi^  IM^^^ 
a<^exliled  iii«^^  '^^eoin- 

n|6aoire  M<0oiAi^i^.  dlMe  vBji^^  ficeie^d  to  a«8ii|iie  lit. 
im  JMrrow  waerit*  Bte  lia»  tiSif  m^ng  :1mb0ii/^^ 
iSidlhf  oiiiii^^led  iipdii  tbiU  pbiii^.  t)^  a^iiiHeb 
iiiKlit&>it  tM^  Ih^lfp^mk 

]^(D4#|^  Minii  to  be  ineloaed.  t^  Bt|««i|^  villbe 
leifliu^n  1,000  j^(^  l4uie  ai^d  jL^oard's  re- 
gll^l^  $ave  com^  (^  urM  nhiuiim  and  mea^ 
i|^n  ibei^,  and  tlHa%  dei^te  of  the  i^  isBtric- 
apni  So^'m^ta^  troiBkjsii.    All 

ttooo^iiti  eon^tir  iti  fejpireieilUiig  the  force  6f  the  eiie. 
mt  ai  mi^  than  ff^OOOy  ejt^flusiye  of  three  battikU^s 
QUnc&rpmited  im^iHa  {t^elle  months  nien)  statioin«i|j 


iii!^tf;(d0r8kt^^^C  di8(«,neefiq^ the  St; 

liawrenee.    Ifa^liaye|^  have 

been  detecb€^^fl^M  #^  poiiat9.    '!%8s6  battalione^ 
cqiitistof^ODBieiieach^'  / 

I  ihaQ  eicpec^  ii^orttiation  fr6m  yon  resp^^f^  the 
-''^  -'th$i^:aboiN»9  but  shall  not  waiia  Bi0nen|Jf<^ 
lamrea^.  ■'  i\  :  V^'  4 

;   I  hav^  the  honor  to  be^  sir, 
*       Tm^resjpectfiiBy,    ■  / 

xoCir  nui^t  obttdilnt  jiervant^,    . 

^  HAMPTOJ^ 


t    "k 


* 


^ecretairy  at  War. 


\ 


m*^. 


/. 


f.  f.-^ 


mi 


V#: 


1. 


CMpc^y  pr<Aa]»)^  p^^  ii^tUe  ontjb  titijii^ 


,.v. 


gof|ti%y  "it'iB  m  anx^u(i|j'  looking 'jSrltie 

^d  C^liAapc^^  biieen  beii^d,  ^  socdpptedM  to  iiiak# 

ji  lieces^aiy  for  him  tii^  g^  ^itb  bort|  Ive  slioiiH  kayo 

^^X^Ak  BHire^ibre  Ut-^*    tCw  Absence  aiiif  mt 

'«l^fi^e  g^  lia^  ilieri^orei  an  i^Nluriiif^tWjMr^^ 

|li»r  liav^  &^en  fhe  iMsUejif  f)|i^'  bait^  It  bas  iv^clh^ 

f;a^ie4  lam  li:<MD  covering  Ibe  uit^nded  poVenffiit  i»|i^ 


:■<■' 


lifiotwation  4ifer9  wi^ly,;firoib  jiimia  «rto  ||| 
_  ^  lOlt  iba  enem^r  at  Montr^  aii4  j^j^iii^^ 
li^    A  deserter  fr^^nia  Bntisn  QefamnH^I 
v^n,  moving,  Ir^ni  Moiitiri^  to.  Kihg|9toii^^  i^ 


>r- 


am  tbem  ni»ai:  tn^ , ^«M r^^  tlie  ijmdsy  cmme^il 
ihU  p08t  tiiedayjtofwa^^s^^  He  slstea  |^ 

the  ^hpl^  regular  ^obe  near  lii^ihtreal  doea  jiqI  leix- 
,«eed.  w  thousand  effecir^^Si  an^^t  but  thrcwB  i^- 
JlkM  invalids  Iia^ve beenle^ atilaeliec.    l^afMtii 
:#tUi  intbrmation  received  tlirougn  00ie#  cban^ 
^^irMt^  and 

'    Frpm  general  Wilkinson  I  have,  n^t^eiu^ 
Iklft  (f^noe,^  arrival  at  fort  l^eorj^,  which  Was  on  ihe 
"*  lustfloii K^^t  must Jiow be  on t|e|iomt » iiovib^ 

he  tdth  and  S^  regunenls  are  iiiBUuiph  j^ 
burg.    The  latter  was  destinied  for  tMs  '|^i^/1ltiC 
li»adng  that  It  could  not  IcMivel^biladelphia  before 
^theljeth^I  ha^'e  ^V^  to  it  tlti^  shorter  nkf^  and 

n^mr  sce^e  of  acSon*  "  ■*'  • 

itfa  amoh  to-be  rwettod  that  our  nsval  menl«iMt 

|ft|^  Chaaq^idii  i#i^  m  te  aNli^«f 


8 


n 


s 


il 
I 


■»-'^<m^> 


1*  ^  ■-- 


t.-m 


■^^-.^^•:' 


<•.  ■  ^  • 


m 


the  4eeif 

itoBiakt 
uM  to 


siitof:aie 


cameidi 

Oes  ^ 

iiot  ex* 


lelil  i^ii 


8  on  ihe 
moi 

ri 

before 


-  4- 


0 


^|rr^WB^^! 


M*  Ue  k  of  inimiiifi^^ 
r  'Tefy  kovUe  serviaily 

G^eral  Hampton. 


>,. 


■f-** 


:^P0,^^^ 


H^AD  quARTBRSy  CUMBEBitiVNli  HEAII^. 


i!*^ 


.♦"  ■  ■< 


^H  '  I  have  fot  my  fiorceii  i 

01^^  lakeniiiicli  entwr^  ti^iuiq^jnity  iMtaC'li^r i^. 
piitkilQliii  are  going  lin.     Jil  litHf  ^^hij^da  tM^ 
qjmxiiriiiasleir  |enen^/iuid  I  btelkve  lie  wi)|  tup* 
kinacle.    lahalliooii'berea^.' 


mfmni  every  i)bi^ 


Smrctary  of  War. 


SACKETT'S  ItARBCHJJft,  A 

%o  <,^0haiuic^  liai  dbawid  l^e  ijiand  tliejjite  *ii4 . 
(A^ji^  1^  t9  take  fiheUiyr  in  i^Hfitoii.  #^4^0011-^ 
ji^ptoe  lua  now  gone  up  to  Igrt  ^^^i|^^  ip 

■'■---'  mtr-  ■      -v 


^V^^ 


y'M.t 


h'r 


f,  '■ 


"V,  »  • 


r.^~ 


>L.-i 


ii! 


if. 


\t 


giiltll :|li«.aYiiy  tmm  C^ttpb^phMidHead  for  tbe  nliiJiiB 

liiiiBx  oil  t^e  lake  sliore,  and  Hiuniil wg  i^nst  (Ml^ 
ii^yjt^  ilfel^^  1^^  Ifft  ^to  l^yie  b«9t|  fl(i^^  at  ikt 
!i^#ii,;«iii4  lUifi^o^  pliu;!^ 

Iwelire^MlBft  ^ttapt  O^b  .c(ii^9  i^eie  nii^ed  ^7 
§mf^mkti'  u  J^neitiiic  fittding  himsalf oui  of  y«  way 
^jthe.4e8i|)|4lil^  pu«iti6dfov  the  secondy  ,and  aaJbi^ 
lUton.  bad  tftken  a  mrcoU  to  get  below  i^  l^aelliiig 
"|i«jed  ftirsjt  |!ii4  iell  upon  4b^  plcquet  in  a  boudeiy 
lici  be  kitledorloob>  except  two  or  three,  attdduK 

iteaft«ri4i|ei '  4^]^^  demrfble  fedlaos  coiitl- 
l^toifllrli  jiboili  tlii»  dis^t  bi^be^^  iiid  ft^^ebi^ 
~6ft Rp  apl  if«ild  iip^oai  sevK^^n^ 

^  ildsp«9il|i^tbe«^irk|ftnd!; 
^r  1^^  dtbera^  wdiiiidedv  ^Tber  wm' ' 


■:  ?*p  ■  - 


■•l?-' 


t:',fi  :'i' 


■,■  V 


M&. 


P 


list, 

1813: 

Bddo#ii 
iie#ii9ie 
^  night 

L.at  i^i^ 

ijiled  by 
Mum  way 

a  houi»ey 
,  andv^ 


$it  h$iM  ftve  dayt^foHtloiify  and  ny  iirtKjjttiwi 

raff  to  path  tbroncii  the  wood,  renova  all  ohiliviD* 

)Woii8,  and  fepair  i&  roadi  for  our  aoppliei,  «irtillaf|'^ 

"^oao^i  Ike.  which  was  to  lbllo:w;  hut  an  ininlRb 

.  toiliintable  dHBcnltyoccuned  whidti  at  once  defied  aH^ 

h^pan  exertion.    The  drought  had  Wn  uncomkony 

itad  I  had  some  doobta  of  the  praoticabiUty  of  procor* 

ittfj^  wat<sr  folr  the  troops,  hoireea  and  teamts  but  iih%\ 

'  |K>|ntff  of  Odletown,  La  Cole,  and  the  river  Ln  padkl 

wwe  ^presented  to  me  ai  a  aitre  reaoaree, 

«  /  The  troopi,, liowever,  ao^pi  diled  tipthe, w^l|t and 


t 


ifings  of  Odletown,  and  the  bedaof  b^  Cole  ii^ 


Dadia  are  represented^  froih  authority  not  to  Im^ 
i^iiestioned,  to  he  dry.  The  troops  begin  to  i^Hbr 
'^^  extremely,  and  the  few  cavalry  and  attulery  horaea 
that  arrived  were  obliged  to  be  setit  baclt  to  Qh*iii« 
pla(iny  a  distance  of  four  mile^,  for  |NFf  ter.  The  difl- 
cfulty  began  to  produce  eifeols  the  liidei  tohe  drei^edi 
;,^  It  was  hot  a  time  to  hesitllte :  the  eeneral  staff  i^d 
cbmmaiiding  officers  of  corpa  were  cawd  togethmyaiid 
tliere;  was  but  one  yoiGe.  ""h. 

Mr  The  jdhataugtf  route  Iras  adoptfd;  i^t  waa  dr^ 
tuitoiis,  but  (dforded  water,  andwas  pl^ctidtdile  in/ 
1^88  time,  all  obstructions  Iq  the  o^her  considered. 
:   The  army  fellback  in  the  afteriiOOii  of  tiii  !ll«t  m4 
picamped  M  Champlain.    The  Chataugy  toad  talEe| 
off  il^ar  tbis  place,  iVkii!  the  army  will  £atl|tfc6  oi|  1| 
seVen  miles  this  afternoon.    The  bamge  i8  qplir  al^ 
t^ncing  on  it.    I  h<^e  to  arrive  at  Chatangy  on  th4 
evening  of  the94>th.    lean  from thendd  join y0u ,i^' 
$^  point  you  may  advise  on  the  St.  ILawreifc^.  H^j^ 
|i|^t  is  Cdgnawmgii^  opposite  to  Xa  Cbttte^  id>Ov|  \ 
forty  miles  froni  Chatau^  and  ten  ih>M  Mott^eiii, 
J^^^have  txjf  guides  and  iia&rmatioii  t  diiij^np^k 
Wit  position  will  present  three  ^i^^.    H^fl& 
hear  ftom  you  I  can  take  either  or liloldllil^  as  cir- 
cuiiiistances  shull  itidicaie^ 
^l^y  prai  linrii^  to  the  anettoy  | ' 


■  '**-#; 


^Ufefa* 


kfitf  ilito  ilkii  cMkMioiiy  ana  will  paM  a#^' 
1^  fidil  io  a^  aa  1m  liaara  <yf  any  routai  to  Chata^. 
IMij^ifiMCe  ia  kaa  nnwaniiia  tlati  I  expected.    It  W 
IfiW  and  of  A  deacrTptioii  thstwill  be  fore^af  fiillfaiy 
dt  V  All  lam  aup u,  it  ahali  bavo all  tbd  ^imn;% fr\ 
"laii'i^it. 

I  ]u»re  the  lMm6r  to  b«9  iiry 
TenrreapactfiiHisr,  ,■ 

Yoiirittoat  obedient  aarvini,        )"* 
|iv.r,-    ,  1r-  HAICPTON.. , 

f    K  9.  SinoBL  writkig  t  And  aU  tiie  com  cmu^  V 
lieavcttbift  ground  bofoM  tbo  morning,  and  that  it  wili^*  tf 
be  4he  SMo  bdbri  we  reach  Ghatancvr  .^  ^ 

l^KitovlBlm  AfAMMifigv  v' 

^  8«crtteff  of  Wafir 


.IK 


ikcatrtHnkika^Hy  iSepi.  l^,  18^5; 


.,.  Yonr  letter  0f  the  Sied  ^atant^  Witt!  deKvdw^d  to 

ine  last  night  Connnddofei  Chaiitk^  leifl  thia  pli£G^ 
oi^tha^  l$tb^  in  the  intention  ti  rnmiittg  u^  to'  £b^ 
0(Mii^  said  cbvetiffig  the  tknsportniion  3f  the  troopr 
irom^^p^tbth».  Oniihe  Slat  he  bfid  notar^ 
^yed  there  I  ibe^  etfe^t,  Hig  I  ^pfMiee^  of  adverse 
windi,  This  (Ciftpnuistance  tvin  neceaslf^ly  bring 
ifter  it  «  del|^  iii  the  execution  of  onr  joint  i^ef^ 
IknuTy  and  will  iiidicate  the  propriety  of  your  noti  ad:^ 
^il^lngbeypi^  Matone  dr  the  jFWxW^9/until'yo]^ 


haye  a<^me  |IMr  niovcMiit   The  distan^if  froni  mis 

j^lace  to  J|aj^e  i^  laSout  13it)  miles.    An  expr<|fsa  calr 

#feach  yoii  in  Wlidui^and  Will,  of  foursc^  enable  yinl 

|»  gain  the  vitta^  or£^(#n'i^^      early  as  mairjt^ 

;  jpri^r.    Y^  Wdl  give  six^  direbt|pn  to  the  muipn' 

___^_  --^^mijiin^  ^f  i^teisembliBd  at  Plattsbnyg,  as  fak  . 

^[mostadvis^le/  .^      • 

i  am.  fiii^  very  respec:lji]rt|y/         ^5 
V       .    ^[,^  Yowi?  most  obedient  servant. 

Major  G.eA.  Hampton.,  ,      :^ 


•\, 


fiillinc 


•ON.  ^ 

t  it  will 


tcr  %t 
etroupit" 

not  ffiT" 
Aifverg^ 
|r  brinjj 

ncnl  iid>' 
titilyoii 

resiciiiff 


Us  yon 


oif^^;- 


? 


18  MILES  FBOM  ClUTAtfflly  -^ 

I  hftd  thit  ndititng;^  at  8  o^lock,  the  honor  to  IlL 

I  teite  jodr  letter  of  the  I8th|  and  flndliic  so  nnektiiM 

'  ott  ny  hands,  the  idea  has  ooourNly  that  a  great  adt 

^  ^litage  may  arise  ftom  a  closer  vfew  of  oar  meaas, 

^  and  the  clearest  possible  concert  and  understandhig 

:  ifk  their  application.    Of  eve^  matter  and  thhif  n^ 

,<»pftting  tOMune/cohyneV  Alkinfon  will  sive  yon  as  ftill 

^In  idea^  as  if  you  had  h^  wi<^  mel&r  the  last  tVe 

^a.    When  yon  shaH  hav«  reflected  Ihlly  >  tuiopi 

'^^m^  my  arrangements  and  ideas^  your  indica^vi 

^n  be  nmde  witn  more  precision  ai»d  conidence. 

The  perflsct  ratca^fs  of  the  troops,  with  the  eic^ 

Mon  fsfnot  a  single  platoony^has  been  a  source  of  ovicb 

i^icitade  to  t|ie  iiest  informed  among  as.    This  «»li. 

Iicitode  has  not  been  removed  by  the  jtrst  experiment 

;Eteiy  ihllig  was  done,  to.be  sore,  thiit  oag^t  t6  have 

jbeep  dotie;1ont  not  In  tWt  t^jf^e  Wnic&  the  exMinple  of 

,^$  SnelKng,  a  Hamilton,  &c.  ou^jhtlb  hitve  fosptred  i« 

%i,t  movements  of  even  the  li^ht  corns.    We  want  a 

nttle  more  mercury,  in  the  ranks  at  least    C^  you 

liot  let  me  have  the  ist  dragoons,  and  one  move  vete* 

>an  battalion?  At  all  events  let  me  have  Haae  <i^d 

JlPL^g,  idat  I  may  have  their  local  Ss  well  as  their  IMM^ 

f^titatloiial  ardour* 

j^:  But  the  great  object  of  ibis  letter  is,  a  fiill  ^'dls- 
;^|iict  vie^  iMid  ilnderst^ding  cm  both  sides.  ■''  MVl 
dseed  say  is,  t)iat  whatever  part  shall  be  assigned  me 
^f|n  ^e  general  nlan,  shall  be  eiiecute^  to  the  atmost 
^'lexteint  of  my  abili^  and  power. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be, 
'     i^ir,  ■■  '  ^     • 

ITonr  most  obed^t  and  very  hntuble  servt. 

W,  HAMFT-QK. 

Hw.  John  AmitUoiii|t 

SpcTStwy  it  Wijr,  -    1^' 


-•s 


<i 


.-i>, 


% 


■«Hlf»^ 


7| 


^  MUmuit 


ji^GmmiliMamptonydatea  " 

WAR  DEPf  RTMENTj 


■^: 


4/ 


'  ;  f^  The^ibnjtioti  yoii  hfive  tiiken  id  Jbeiter  calcttlifc!t| 
eiUt  keep  tttt  the  ^nem|f' s  doobts  With  reeard  to  your 
ml  jpoint  of  attack  than  iiiy  otheh    Mold  Hfnui  tiifl) 


we  a^ppfoaete  vou,    Ih  thiajireseiit  state  of  the  qiiHi 
ftai^  we  oii^t  i»»raii  ho  risks  by  separate  attackt 
when  cpmKite^  ones  are  practicable  and  sure.    Ha^: 
ion  been  able  to  ^ave  broken  do\«rn  the  head  of  thel|^ 
lifeiioef  and  isei^ed  the  bank  of  the  St.  John's  at  thj| 
Bi^pids,yoiL  would  haVei  bothe^^ 
MdeTably ;  l^nt,  on  theA^hole^  the  western  moyenienii|: 
16  be  preferred ;  b^use  in  it  there  is  safeiv  anicQji^^ 
^^,  ancl  in  <^e  m^iUi  time,  enongh  to  render  his  a^ 
l^lHion  to  d^rent  points  necessary,  and  of  course  to 
|^e%np  liis  ^Mceslij  a  stiite  of  division.  'rv 

-"^fTPlie  moment  i^ei«iwsn^1eft  the  Uj^fp^rif  of 
Ch^sapcii^^,  r  Or^erfid  ^jej^^s  with  his  battaiibn  0. 
0ie  lOui  ibibihyoii.    A  biittalioh  of  the  3$d  had  simi-^ 


U£AD  QUARTERS,  CHATAUGAY, 


:  ■»■' 

* 


^. 


'■*- 


October  4,  18l4  1^ 

0BAR9IR,  1 

No  change  of  importance  in  my  affairs  has  00  _., 
cnrred  since  my  last,  by  colonel  Atkinson ;  but,  t^, 
there  are  se^'eral  of  minor  consideration,  I  have  ju^idiiii 
tiiat  a,  detailed  vitiw  of  them  might  be  of  some  use,  w| 
ihemom<entof  your  arranging  with  the  commandii^ 
g^ralthe  main  course  of  the  pit>posed  operations.  ^ 
, .  «)?£lie  road  to  Plattsbdi^  will  be  completed  to*day^ ' 
^lidd  is  a  perfect  turnpike.  The  artillery,  consisting 
Of  B  six-pounders,  i  twelve>  and  1  howitzer,  tolera^ 


•f< 


.;#"*' 


'•■■*  ■ 


(I    • 


':i,n.U;>^ 


#mall  «tock  of  ^rovisionsium  iiaiid^  bui  ha^is  tlufliiOiA 
pointed  assurance  from  colonel  Thomavy  the  aiM^rtel 
master  gi^n^ral,  that  a  supply  of  sixty  days  of  l^a4 
and  ftOmr  will  aniTe  at  once^  in  the  coarse  of  tlifee.0r 
Ibur  days.  I  have  only  froin  forty  to  fifty  ramids  of 
uUskei  cartridges  with  me;  but  t^  convojr  wiA  nia)(« 
ihe  supply  an  hundred,  and  give  to  the  artillery  iill!tt 
requires  in  reserve.  The  supply  of  salted  provisif^iKli 
iifiil  not  exceed  a  fourth  of  the  propiortion  of  9awt\ 
but  we  have,  ahd'Oan  have,  an  unlimitted  supply  of 

fbod  be^  cattU^  J^^idier  gea^^ral  Parker  Is  «| 
^attsbarg  hasiening^my  supplies,  and  presiding  py^ 
aome  arrangements  thc^t  were  thoii^t  necessa^j^ 
I  have  directed  the  commeitcemetit  of  k  mttif  i0^r, 
oi*  invasion  of  the  lines,  at  and  near  lak6  Cham^ 
plain,  by  colonel  Clark,  who  has  some  voluiiteers^ 
and  brisadier  general  Fasset,  ^our  colonel)  who  4ia6j^ 
at  n^  instance,  called  oat  his  brigade  of  Qiilitia. 
The  latter,  I  understand,  torn  out  but  badly,  but  ^ey 
Mil  make  togetlier,  I  suppose,  froin  IKK)  to  1000  men* 
There  has  been  inculcated  by  the  artUtcet  of  the  BH- 
tish,  a  shameful  and  corrupt  neutrality  on  the  lines, 
for  tj'/e  purposes  of  gain.  I  have  directed  t|iese  of> 
fleers  to  break  the  truce.  And  should  other  means 
fail,  to  act  the  part  of  the  mischievous  urchiil,  w|io,  to 
get  two  peaceable  tabbies  at><  moiNjy^  ^h^  f^f  M\ 
hold  them  up  together  by  the  tail.  To  be  serious,  it 
is  reiftily  time  each  individual  should  take  his  fide, 
and  that  traitors  to  either,  should  meet  their  due  te^ 
ward.  What  I  am  aiming  at,  however,  is  tranquillity 
o$n  the  road,  by  kicking  up  a  dust  on  the  Ulios.  It 
liirill  also  create  a  division  at  a  proper  point.  Of  Hop- 
llins's.militia,  but  about  !S50  hav^  arrived.  And  im4 
more  than  60  or  60  of  them  have  consented  to  paay ' 
the  line.  Such  as  refused,  general  Parker  was  au^ 
ihorized  to  keep  on  the  lines  below,  and  to  ej^eite^ail 
gte  otorm  he  could  with  them  and  the  Versotttora, 
The  chiuise  of  habit  has  produced  nor«  tlbkneia 


f'fl- 


:.  ,-H 


fL  5 


t-i 


^■.. 


m 


im 


tl^i(liiii6eE^^^  ijhii  plibeetaaQO;  aiidi 

fin  i^^rpid  wiU  llie  enemy  ia  in  consi^ 

iWe  fJDfree  a^cmt  H^or  14  miles  distant  fie  madf» 
aii^attaek  on  one  of  my  out-posts  with  300  or  iM)Ovrel; 
eiHars,  and  as  many  Indians,  on  the  afternoon  of  Uie 
l(rst  Instaat,  but  h^  fell  into  bad  hands.  He  found 
^nelUng  well  posted  i^ith  his  own  and  WoqVs  corak 
l^beMtack  was  made,  with  Indians^,  and  the  r egomrs 
lay  in  nmbush.  H^t  Bnellins  dashed  upon  |hiem  witib 
Ba^h  mpidity  upon  their  flanks,  thiit  they  alt  sk^ii^ 
pered  away  together.  liieutenani  Nash,  of  the  d8d 
reg^ent,  and  one  man  was  killed^  uid  one^ounded* 
If  the  Indians  lost  any  they  carried  them  off. 

The  Indians  still  hover  about  us  snd  «hoot  at  our 
sentries^    The  Bt.  Regis  people  are  poor  d-~ls^ 

i  have  written  in  much  haste,  and  have  neither  tii^e 
for  correctioiil.nor  coding.  You  must  take  it  for  bet- 
ter for  w<mie.  I  will  only  entreat  you  to  regard4t)n 
any  other  light  rather  than  that  of  an  offidal  commn- 
iiication.  You  may,  however^  no  less  ilely  upon  aU4he 
information  it  conveys. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully  and  ti*uly, 

:Tour  most  obedient  servant, 

W.  H4ii«PT0N, 

The  hob.  John  Armstrongr 


«f 


HEAD   QUARTERS,  CHATAUGY, 

October  IS,  1818. 


i^fiAR  SIR,  4 

''  M  to  know  your  progress,  i^id  ti£ 

real  state  of  the  grand  army,  Is  extreme.  It  is  per* 
iiapsnot  less  necessary  for  both,  that  I  should  be 
constantly  informed.  Implicit  faith,  cordiality,  and 
concert  ou^ht  to  unite  our  efforts.  These  have  fonn^ 
ed  ihe  baiiis  of  our  exertions  so  far,  and  promised, 
nore  than  our  numbers,  the  result  so  much  desnwd.    t 


■%;.-4. '    .  "^  '-w  .-■•.s»*ii,'_''i 


Li^y:-^^yr 


;•^||■.■^!, 


^ 


I0» 


^'veiy  mum  "[tlA  point  Md  mo?emetti  of  9111;  Jtilii^' 
tiiopis  all  inpottaiit;  and  tliA^  mid  iioit  Ib6  Ipicp^ 
of  my  ^srlioe  from  hence^  ought  tobe  kdkiMte^; 
becattieXottjght  to  be  the  best  ju^  x^  the  iinle  n4^ 
cescfiury  to  sniinonnt  the  obstaaet  in  the  way.  ]3e- 
tween  this  Kid  CoenauHmgd  much  work  on  ^hO;  void 
is  necessary,  and^  ou^  to  advance  upoii  it  two  or 
three  days  earlier  than  midht  be  judged  necessary  iipT 
'  on  a  smooth  and. sdlid  road.  By  seizing  and  holding 
strong  positions  in  my  front,  the  work  could  progress 
in  my  i^ar  without  incur^g  risk,  until  |^  arrive  withr 
in  a  striking  distance.  ITon  have  said  '<  hoM  fa^t/'^ 
and  it  mi^t  be  considered  precipitate  to  advance'  be- 
Ibre I  bearcat  least, that  the  Mubicon  is  passed abovev 
These  are  points  lor  your  consideration  an^  those 
with  you  who  guide  the  generalmovenieiit^  iTon 
hi^e  not  sent  me  the  SOO  mounted  dragoons;    Their 

fresence,  on  ground,  the  possession  of  wMch  I  db  not 
espair  of  gadming,  added  to  a  force  of  4^000  effective 
infantry,  and  a  well  appointed  fmn,  ought  to  inspire 
you  with  some  reliance  upon  our  army,  new  as  it  is. 
'High  pretensions  have  been  avoided ;  but  the  moment 
has  arrived  when  it  is  perhaps  necessary  for  us  to  be 
,    Estimated  at  lis  much  as  we  are  worth. 

The  lOtK  is  at  band,  and  is  included  in  the  e$ti. 
^  Biatei.    It  is  believed  the  militia  may  serve  for  escorts 
to  what  nnist  fbUow  us.  ^ 

GoTottel  Clark  is  carrying  on  his  smaA  Waf  Ou  the 
tines  with  all  the  effect  contemplated^  Thecneniy''s 
laotley  force  have  every  where  nearly  disappeared. 
He  is  concentrating,  no  doubt,  on  points  in  my' way., 
ffipon  the  river.        -: 


.%'*• 


I  haV6  the  honor  to  be,  sir^ 
Very  respectfully  and  truly, 
Your  obedient  servant, 
V  W.  HAMPTON. 

'f  he  Hon.  Cienerai  Armtti^Ohg^ 


Seeretary  at  War. 


■.<f 


.341  ■■' 


,1 


•^' 


:.«' 


.  -i 
»'.' 


>*?■ 


♦*.' 


.«? 


bavfB  liad  «|i  intelligent  desertet  of  tlte 
iiiiiliof  €ftnft^n  fiNioibleft.  He  stated  the  el^eitepg 
JhjRtelieiurasiii  8^000 men;  but  when  pfut  to  tlie  Se- 
li!l> ^ye  iiiM Mo^s ;  -  -  ^ 

iltb  regifflent^two  flank  cotaipanies  and  part  of 

a  ba£Mi<>i^     •       •       .        .       .       .  80O 

MnronV  Fi^ench  regiment,  two  flank  companies,  SOQ 

Gaiiadkn  fencibles,  colonel  iUibinson,        .  iOO 
Ccrlodel  Blikbqhiy^s  connnand,  yoltlgueri  and 

.  Indians  and  some  fencibles,         .        .  700 

^0  baitteliens  incorporated  militia,     .       .  7<^ 

'^<i;1ie^  whole comn)  by  colonel  Williams,  %,im 

'^'1^  George  had  ^e  along  to  Montreal.     He- 
itonght  down  thirty-six  boats  and  about  600  troops^ 
Iwbided  inihe  above. 


M 


./,.-^. 


f%. 


8AX;kt:tt^8  HARBOR, 

October  16,  1818^  " 

GENERAL, 

Your  favor  of  the  USth  ultimo  has  been  handed 
^  file  %  major  Pa.rker.  The  Niagara  division  \ai» 
been  slow  in  its  movements.  It  had  at  length  reached 
Henderson'sharbour,  and  moves, this  day  to  €^rena# 
dier  islandy  whither  the  division  here  is  moving  also. 
From  this  point  (Grenadier  island^)  we  take  our  de- 
^rtnre  either  for  Kingston  or  for  Montreal.  The 
enemy  broke  up  his  positions  before  fort  George  on. 
the  9th^  burned  his  surplus  stores,  arms,  &c.  and 
moved  rapidly  for  Burlington  bay,  which  he  reached 
on  th^.  11th  instant.  Advices  from  the  bay  of  Canti 
•tate,  thai  he  is  coming  down  te  Kiusston,  and  that  bis 
iick  and  convalescent,  to  the  number  of  1!^,  had 
already  arrived  th^re.  He  will  bring  with  Mm  aboni 
iSOOf  effect! ves>  and  thanks  to  the  storm  and  our  snail- 
like  movements  down  the  lake,  they  will  be  there  be- 
fore we  can  reach  it.  The  mm(»Hvrt  intended  is  losl^ 


'.? '' ,  ■> 


mli 


Ji  J    ^n"       I 


800^^ 


7^. 


.t- 


...  Jt^  ■ 

troops^ 


iiiip^aiicij  <r  ibe  ^jwit  Say;  ftortwrt?^ "" 

wfi^  1^  Ibe  iftlo  ?errdi,  wnjBllfie  Wii^  'slilEilV^ipfid^i^ 

etna ia  cpiDiiQuiiica^oii  viil^  you.    t^^p^^itli^  ^t~i 

c(]S^8  you  MTlpi^^  ^mtiiK^^-j^ 

tetiMge  JOT  tffjter  poiJKt  wUf^  i^ 

iji^i^ion,  ani  Kola  ifte  enimyinQhec^,    To^rKiM^^ 

T^ai^ce  and  sUU  .n^ake  :it  iii^ecesQafjr  to  sug^t 

^  /jfi(i^' l^eiiBure  of  prfiicanti<)n  ^i^^nst  ibe.  i^terprfiiBS  <h> 

dM  i^emy  while  .you  remtflb  ^ithm  atrok^  of  bim. 

l?iie  ^^msitions  Will  pas^  ^e  Bi  Litvidr^ice  >n^  " 

Gotean^tac,  '^  ^    ^    ^  i, 


Yours,  &c. 


^ 


JOHN  ARMSTiB)ONa 


t 


\  ■  r  f  -.: 


,;«  g^  ^  Major  General  Hampton. 


||£AO  QUARTEBSy  FOUB  OOR^ERSy  ^ 

^  J^Jovembisr  1,  iBt9.    v 

'     On  tbe  mbrning  of  the  Sist  ultimo  ^e  army  eoitt^: 

'^nced  its  movement  4own  tlieCShateaugay,  l(^^ 

pu^po^  of  placing  itself  in  ft  dtu^timi  :i»'^iob  ii^o^ 

enable  ft  to  lulfil  its  parts  of  the  propiosed  combine^ 

operations  on  the  St.  Lawrence. 

An  extensive  wood  of  eleven  or  twelve  mile§  in 
lh>itt,  blocked  lip  with  felled  timber^  and  covered  by 
the  Indians  and  light  troops  of  the  ^Bmy>  was  a  s0^ 
rious  impediment  to  the  arduous  task  of  opening  n 
•tottA  for  tb^e^artilleiy  andstoreSb  Brigadier  general 
Is&ai^  wi<|i  the.  light  troops  and  olie  re^ment  of  ;^e 
line^ was^etached  early  m^emerni^to ttnn ibm^ 


-K 


r'  *rr  vqi*  tfr  vV  • 


■.^ 


y'.t.   »•,'.*-*» 


'*  "f^ 


«»■ 


/.■  >•' 


'# 


i 


y*-: 


ntt^kiW,  whiles  t)^ 

6tid^bto  route  tcf^k  itmd.  The  metsaife,  a»g^^)i^ 
,  jseenbv  the  t^port  df  bTig^iet  ^e?ai;is«rird,' 
Wliicli  t  %ye  the  honor  to  iiicloM,  completely^  00^ 
c^ededyHtkd  the  main  b(Hly  of  the  arthy  reiu^h^d^^ 
^vanced  ^Uibik  OB  the  Evening  of  the  Sl^.  Tfte 
ii»l  and  JNffli  were  employed  jn  tonpleti^g  the  roa^ 

tiod  jettilig  up  the  artilleiy  and  stores. 
'%1^  atran^dy  At  my  4epa:rtnr6)  tinder  the  diii^- 
m  of  major  Parker,  a  line  of  eoniinuftication  an  iUr' 
nnlhe  Bt.  l^^nrence  as  Oedetisbu^,  f(ft  the  piirpm 
cl^ln^Bte^n^to  me  the  earuest  notice  of  the  piogreiil 
^  ouriurmy  down.  1  had  surmounted  lweaty-j|il^ 
]|kil0i  of  the  most  difficult  part  of  the  route,  and  t^fl 
ki  advance  of  me  seven  miles  of  open  counti^,  but|l 
the  end  of  tbat  distance  commenced  a  wood  of  soiie 
nitles  itf  exten^j  which  had  been  formed  into  an  ^t^ 
abatis  and  filled  by  a  succession  of  woodeU  1n«liit- 
woi'ksy  the  rearmost  of  whicb  were  supplied  with  ^^, 
tiance.  In  front  of  these  d^ences  were  placed  thl 
Indian  ftirce  and  light  corps  of  the  etiemy,  and  in  tliii 
t«ar  all  of  bis  disposable  force.  As  the  extent  of  this 
force,  depended  upon  lus  sense  of  danger  ob  tlpe  Sip  - 
i|^wrence,  it  w^  a  cause  of  ri^gret  that  all  comioM- 
(^ti(>niri^tii  yourself  or  major  Pkrker  seeme^  to  be  at 
iM  end.  As  it  Was,  however,  beUevfld  that  tb«  elie- 
i0^9ia  hoUrlj;  adding  to  his  strength  fulhis  pOsitiOti, 
If  ^(^frcktt  the  apprehension  of  di&nger  from  above^ 
an  eilbrt  was  judged  necessary  to  dislodge  bim,  lUM^ 
if  |t  sutccieded>  we  should  be  in  possession  of  ii  pO' 
sMcin  which  we  could  hold  as  loi^  as  any  doubts  t^ 
miittied  of  what  was  pairing  above,  and  Of  ^ei^ 
]pi0^  to^bfe  assigned  us. 

^rguides  asiiared  us  of  a  shoal  and  practical>le 
fbi^g^ace,  opposite  the  lowerjanlli:  Of  the  elnf$m^4 
dfefbiicifeS;  flind'that  the  woOd  On  th<^  ^opposite  side  of 


t-y. 


'M^ 


%^:.. 


»#?**• 


i5  roil# 

r  soiliie 

intli 
of  ^ 
^  8  V 

» be  ill 


c^ 


icalik 
i^  ot 


^Iii9i9lice  bis  Mi«ck  iiir^r,  fu4,4|a|iiif|%^ 

«9gii«l|bjr  tbe  mrnny  ^ f«ll on  in  (^t,  %ii4,4j 

pelieve4  tbe  pai|8  migbt  be  carrif^d  Itefore  v^  eHii^, 

dU^mt  trQo^,^l4  be  brougbt  fqrwi^^  tpi|i 


>rt. 


;biid  retaraed  to  my  quarters  from  Purdy* g  coliiaim 

11  t^q'^^M^i^i  iiigb^wbe^^l^  C<ftMiiid  IV  W.  :B«l4 
i^^'Of  tbjBq«UMrt^\iWter  general'i^  dej^ujiii^i^iit^^irl^ 
intpvQiy  bands  a|A  open  paper  containlniginstiQ^. 
p  to  biiH  from  the  quarter  master  ^^ner^JI^  f^^^i^. 
f^  the  buildiQff  of  hiits  for  the  armyin  the  Gbjateaii^ 
,  ^^  below  tbe  Ime.  This  ]^aper  stxii  nqr  ^^pcis^  #ii4 
niused  j9enoa»  dpubti^  of  receiving  that  effipaeioQf  f^ih 
jport  wbic||  bad  been  anticipated.  I  wou^  ^ve  v^. 
G^IW  tbevcolumn^  but  it\^a8  in  motion,  and  the  da|H^ 
^ness  of  the  night  rendered  it  imprfu)ticabiie.j  looped 
!Ply  go  forward.  The  arm^  was  put  in  motion  on 
^  ponung  of  the  l^ih,  leaving  it4  baggage^  &c.  ^ 
tJ^  ground  of  encampment. 
'Qn.  advancing  neiM^  the  enemy,  it  wa^  found  tb^^t 
tl|e  cfdnmn  on  the  opposite  side  was  not  as  li^  i^4^ 
yanced  as  j^ad  been  anticijpated.  The  guides .  ^4 
ImisWd  it,  l^nd  finally  failed. in  finding  tbe  ford,  tf  4 
Qoul4  not  communicate  with  it?  but  onty  awiiiM  tb^ 
attacfi;  below.  About^  o'clock  tbe  firing  comnience^^ 
and  our  troops  advanced  rapidly  to  the  attacks ,  The 
enemy's  light  troops  commenced  a  sharp  fire,  li^i. bri- 
gadier general  Izard  advanced  With  his  b^iga4% 
drove  h^tnev^ry  where  behind  |iis  defence;!  a^.4  4t 
lenced  the  fire  in  bis  front.  This  brigade  would  n<^v^. 
pushed  i|)|^ard  as  far  as  courage,  ^klU  and  persey^^^ 
ranee  conld  hay^  carried  it  f  but  on  .adyiincin^  it  M^ 
#und  that  the  firing  had  commenced  on  the  qpp^|^. 
side,  and  the  ford  had  not  been  gained,     f  ,v  h^^"!  .^ 


-.  ■  ij 


a. 


,iB.C  , 


?jB** 


'r  J 


-^ 


m 


k   « 


^^filitf  iitBHttaqk  w'aii  eipec^d,  and  ilrti  tnlb]^jt- 
Iriiidd  iiottie  tlli«6  in  their  ^tfition  to  meet  it. '  'illB 
^troops  on  ihe  ophite  eide  were  excessively  fatigned. 
^he  entdrpKise  nad  fidled  in  its  main  poin^  ai;id  (bMo- 
iiel  Pddldy  was  ordered  to  withdraw  nis  column  iof 
ahoal  foiiir  or  five  miles  above,  and  cross  over.  /](1ie 
day  was  spent,  aiid  general  Izard  was  orderfed^^ 
^hdraw  m#hrigade  to  a  position  three  miles  in  the^. 
ftar,  to  which  place  ihe  baggage  had  been  ordered 
fbl^rd. 

The  slowness  and  order  with  which  general  Izatrd 
fifed  with  his  brigade,  could  but  have  inspired  th0 
leiny  wi^  respect.  They  presumed  not  to  venture 
a  fjitft  it  him  during  Ms  movement  ^  but  the  nnguar^ 
l^lnes^'of  some  part  of  Purdy's  command  expos^ 
him  td  a  rear  attack  from  the  Indians,  which  was  rjl-  , 
peated  aftet'  dark>  and  exposed  him  to  some  losi^ 
T&ese  attacks  Were  always  repelled,  and  must  ha^^lli' 
cost  the  eniemy  as  many  lives  as  we  lost.  Our  entire 
loss  of  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  does  not  excei^d 
fifty.  In  its  new  position  within  three  mites  of  thf 
Enemy's  post,  the  army  encamped  oii  the  night  of  the 
S6th,  and  remained  until  i%  o'clock  of  the  ^th.  All 
the  deserters,  of  whom  there  Were  four,  having  coh- 
oiired  in  the  informatibn  thai  sir  George  Prevost,  with 
^ree  other  general  officers,  had  arrived  with  the  whole 
'of  his  disposable  force,  and  lay  in  the  rear  of  these  de- 
fejaces,  and  a  letter  from  mi^or  Packer  (by  express  re^ 
ceived  on  the  evening  of  the  Sdth)  having  informed 
ime  that  no  movements  of  oUr  army  down  the  8t. 
liawrence  had  been  heard  of  at  Ogdetisburg,  ahd  for 
some  distance  above ;  the  following  questions  were 
snb^itt^d  to  4he  commanding  officers  of  brigades, 
regiment^  and  corps,  and  the  heads  of  the  general 
Btaff^  in  a  council  convened  for  the  purpose :  ^'Is  it 
1adyiseable,uuder  existing  circumstances,  to  renew  the 
%ttack  on  the  epemy's  position,  and  if  hot,  what  po- 


*  ■.■  ..■*.-■ 


Lv..;;.  r 


I         » 


..< 


♦^•. 


« 


*;*y  ' 


comt 


Teee&ire  ildt^t  of  the  a^wnce  of  i\m  gnind 
<l0Wii;;^heSt  £tf«nreiiee?"  Tfae^^nipnqlte 
df  wftt  expressed  in  the  Miowing  wordi :  • 

"'^%  is  thetinftiiiikious  opimon  of  this  ooimc^ly  thil 
it  il^iiecessftry,  for  the  preseiVfttion  of  thb  anpiy  tad 
##{hlfiliiient  of  the  ostensible  views  of  the  fgofvtm- 
inenty  that  we  immediately  return  by  orderly  march^t 
t||(Nich  a  position  rChateaugay)  as  will  secure  our 
i^munications  with  the  United  States,  either  t<i^  le- 
tire'  into  winter  quarters  or  to  be  ready  to  strike  be- 
li#.'^    in  pursuance  Of  tids  opinion  the  army  hiw  re- 
turned by  slow  marches  to  this  plac^,  and  uow»wmilp 
.11^  orders  of  the  govemqient*    Its  condition  wiUli 
.  Itated  by  the  bearer,  colonel  King,  who  can  ^ve  you, 
'  llpoh  every  point,  more  full  and  perfect  informataony 
Ihan  could  be  contained  in  a  written  detail.  > 

I  have  the  honor  to  be, 
With  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant,  . 

W.  HAMPTOjr?^ 


The  hon.  John  Armstrong) 
&:       Secretarjr  of  War. 


S  v.^* 


•       1     /  HEAD  QllARTERS  OF  THE  ARMT, 

V  JHstrkt  JV*o.  9,  seven  mUea  aboree  (^dmshwrf^, 

November  6, 1818,  in  the  evening. 

;  I;.address  you  at  the  special  instance  of ^  the 
secretalry  of  war,  who,  by  bad  roads,  worse  weftflber, 
iind  ill  health,  was  diverted  firom  meeting  me  near  this 
place,  and  determined  to  tread  backhis  steps  to  Wash- 
ington from  Antwerp  on  the  ^9th  ultimo.  ' 

I  ain  destined  to  and  determined  mi  the  attack  ^f 
Mi^treaJ^  if  not^revented^by  scmte  a^  ot^o^  f  ^d 


t^ 


.•v^ 


■  y 


<■ 


■'■•?*:  ■y^^.^il 


5?' 


(■' 


ii'l 


«ik> 


r«QBNM«il  moat  oo-operate  with  ibetiMif^  imiei 
ktertdiftte  ^«rd«n.    The  yoliil  of  i«ndesvoa»  .ii^'' 
file  dicoiiif tauoe  of  neatoii  interest  to  the  iif ue  ^s, 
itA^  Ofierttloei,  tad  the  cUitance  which  lepenUeNiiy  '^ 
wA  my  ignorao^  of  the  pi«(;ttoiihiUty  of  the  dir0ct''o| 
dtvioui  toftdt  or  i^utet  on  wl^ch  yon  minst  nieid#; 
make  k  neoeiMnr  tnatyoor  oWn  jadgmeiit  should  doi'. 
tmiiiie  that  ,^onii    l!b  assist  too  in  forming  i|i^« 
iOVDdesI  determinatiim  and  to  take  the  most  proaiiP^ 
and  eftotnal  measures,  I  can  only  inform  you  of 'iljN^ 
intentions  and  situation  in  one  or  two  respects  of  ihN%  , 
importance.    I  shall  pass  Prescott  to-night,  becau«« 
Ihe  •(Hge  of  the  seaiBon  will  not  allow  me  three  dihrll, 
to  take  it;  shall  cross  the  cavalry  at  Hamhleton,  wrnqT 
will  not  require  a  day,  and  shall  then  press  fonnrard^ 
and  break  down  every  obstruction  to  uie  confluem 
•f  tMs  river  With  Grand  river,  there  to  cross  to  the  is 
Perrot,  and  ^rith  my  scows  to  bridge  the  i^rrow  inn< 
channel,  and  thus  obtain  foothold  on  Montreal  tslan^ 
at  about  twenty  miles  from  the  city ;  after  which,  oUll^ 
artillery,  bayonets  and  swords  must  secure  our  tr^« 
umph  or  provide  us  honorable  graves;    Inclosed  yot^ 
have  a  memoraUdum  of  my  field  and  battering  trains 
preth^  well  found  in  fixed  ammunition,  which  may 
enable  you  to  dismiss  your  own,  but  we  are  deficient 
in  loose  powder  and  musket  cartridges,  and  therefore 
hope  you  may  be  abundantly  found.    On  the  suligec^ . 
of  provisions,  I  wish  I  could  give  as  favorable  infor«i| 
macion;  our  whole  stock  of  bread  may  be  computed 
at  aboht  Id  days,  and  our  meat  at  SO.    In  speaking- 
on  this  sulnea  to  the.  secretary  of  war,  he  informe^V 
me  that  ample  magazines  were  laid  up  on  lake  Cham^-;^ ' 
^|rlaln,  and  therefore  I  must  request  you  to.  order iloir-^' 
tiFard  two  or  three  months  supply  by  the  safest  routeji 
in  a  direction  to  the  proposed  scene  of  action.  :</i. 
have  submitted  the  state  of  our  provisions  *  to  my^V 
general  olRcers)  who  unanimously  agree  that  it  should^' 


r 


-     I 


O^A 


■y 


"'  ii  ^'■ 


^•♦^ 


♦  ' 


"V 


x^»  * 


:,-A...f^& 


^/.  ^«t 


.:irt-^,.^-> 


;:■*-:■; 


I.  > 


I,  .  • 


10 Agre»4ii (^HikNiy  itel if  yon amiNil m  fiKA^fi 
fe  ike  eiiemy  yon  (riioukl  neet  us  M  St  Bodi^  If 

itividiiity. 
^    ItfaaHexpecttplioil^ftoai^ifnottoteeyoil^ifttM 

]»1aiQ0onai€9thorlOthiiiitaiit,  ^^ 


*  < 


S-ilr- 


Andhavethebonortoberei^ectfiiUyyl^.    ^^|  . 

JAB.  WILKINBON.  #   ' 


To  JKajor  General  W.  Hftmptoii)  Sec* 


■^. 


,  S.  i  was  preparing  AH  express  wbich  ltikm(ia 
hiy,e  despatchea  to-morrow  b|it  for  the  fortunii^  call 
of  oolonei  King.  ,^ 

^.  A  copy, 

JOHN  HOOMES,  dii-de^emfi  ^^ 


^^.•? 


KBAP  QUABTERS,  FOUH  CORNERS, 

November  8, 1818. 


8IB, 


! ;>  1  had  the  honor  to  receive,  M  a  late  hon^last 
^  '^evening,  by  colonel  King,  your  communication  of  the 
6th,  and  was  deeply;  impressed  with  the  sense  drre<- 
sponsibtlity  it  imposed  of  deciding  upon  the  means  of 
our  co-operation. 

The  idea  su^sted  as  the  opinion  of  your  offiders, 
of  effecting  the  junction  at  St.  Regis,  was  most  plea- 
'  sing)  Its  l^ing  the  most  immediate,  until  I  came  to 
the  disclosure  of  the  amount  of  your  supplies  of  pro*;^^ 
vision.  Colonel  Atkinson  will  explain  the  reasons 
that  would  have  rendered  it  impossible  for  me  to  have 
brought  more/than  each  man  could 'have  carried  upon 
his  ^k;  and,  when  I  reflected  that,  in  throwin^my- 


>  •  ■( 


/ . 


■  r'''--'-'^ 


r 


•  ■tf" 


•'  \i,':V';,.-'-'^':  y 


,.^., 


..^.  ■». .    i  , 


■:> 


I   ^^ 


A  ^: 


0  n 


HI  m  your  mcNrt  virtnerable  point,  1  difl  not  li^liUUl' 
^Adopttke  opinion,  ftlter  consnlting  the  geDemt  luid*  > 
^ncipfil  olioers,  that  bv  throwing  myself  friick  bn 
uy  nuuu  depot,  where  »l  the  means  of  transportetiontt 
haid  gone,  and  fa.'Hng  upon  the  enemy^s  ilanl^.and''  * 
t\ttrainiB|^  every  effort  to  open  a  communication  firoiii 
Plattaburgh  to  Ooenawiiga,  or  any  other  point  yoii 
«ia;f  iadicatiB  on  the  8t.  Lawrenee,  I  shoaldn 
dBBctqally  contribute  to  your  success  than  by 
junction  at  8t  Reg^is. 

The  way  is,  in  many  pUces,  blockaded  and  alu*^ 
':iised,  and  the  road  impracticable  for  wheel$  d»r ' .  ; 
^intetf  Lai,  by  the  emmoyment  of  pack  homes,  it  ]^ 
mm  iio»t  overpowered,  I  hope  to  be  able  to  prevents 
'  your  starving.  "^» 

I  have  ascertained  and  witnessed  the  plan  of 
eneiny  is  to  bum  and  c^|ijppie  every  thing  in  our 
vance.  '  T' 

My  troops  and  other  meana  will  bd  described  ilr 
.yott  by  colonel  i^tkinson.    Besides  their  rawness,^, 
and  sickliness,  t^i'iy  have  enuared  fatigues  equal  to  if 
winter  campaign  in  the  lat^  snows  and  bad  weathin^  • 


and  are  sadly  mspirited  aiid  fallen  oiSi  but,  upon  th||^ 
t  refer  you  to  colonel  Atkinson. 


subject  I  must  reter  you 

With  these  means  what  can  be  accomplished  b|^^ 
4iuman  exertion,  I  wUl  attempt,  with  a  mind  devoted 
to  the  general  objects  of  the  campaign. 


<i* 


■■■a.  > 


A  copj . 


W.  HAMPTON. 

7A- 


.ft 


JOHN  H00mj2<«^,  Aid-de>camp. 

To  Major  Gcineral  Wilkinsop. 


.  j'  *• "  i^'  • 


i 


in  the 
found 

genen 
tionpi 
rivl^ ' 

prdvfs 


.i  *; 


?1» 


.,  • .» »•.  ff 


cers, 
low  a 
tionai 
by  ch 


■*■  -^ 


^^-^Mfi,^-, 


^i, 


a  to  r 

mthl  . 

led  hp"^ 
Bvoteo** 


^^;■, 


.ti" 


camp. 


*'«■ 


M 


*  *' 


■«, 


.i|. 


^i*iiC©3 


November  1%  18iS« 


I  bate  the  honor  to  iiielose  the  copy  of  a  Itttter 
I  T?ave  Meeived  firom  geDeral  WilhiiMoii,  aod  of  ny 
i  j).l]r.  The  forage  at  Chateaugy  had  been  noail^ 
^  ^  amed  before  the  expedition  down  the  river;  mmI 
in  the  return  of  the  army,  enough  only  could  he 
found  to  vuhaiit  the  hornet  and  team^  two  or  Uiree 
da^f^  All  aecounta  eonenrred  in  the  fDport,  tha£^. 
generll  Wilkinson  had  not  commenced  his  opera- 
tion* against  Kingston,  and  that  no  dee«ient  down  the 
riv^was  intended.  Hence,  the  necessity  for  srnd- 
in|||»ff  the  cavalry,  artillery,  and  orpvision  team^  to^ 
Pl#|)sburgh  for  subsistence;  ana  hence  alnOf  the 
imMBsibility  of  a  junction  at  l^t.  Regis  with  mofe 
pruvtsions  than  must  h^ve  been  consumed  on  the 
xck9k\$h  to  that  place.  General  Wilkinson  had  no 
spttffs  transportation  for  us;  and  the  junotioh  would^ 
havt  reduced  the  stuck  of  provisions  to  eight  nr  t^n 
da^  for  the  whole.  The  alternative  was  adopted 
un^r  the  impression  of  absolute  necessity. 

"fhe  army  has  approached  on  this  route  to  tho 
roijil  leading  to  Chazy,  a  few  miles  from  the  lines^ 
where  I  shall  join  it  to.night,    I  can  only  repeat 
what  I  said  in  niy  letter  to  general  Wilkinson,  ^*  that 
what  can  be  accomplished  by  human  exertion  shall 
be  attempted  to  meet  the  objects  of  the  campaign.'^  , 
But  I  should  be  uncandid  not  to  own,  that  many  cir-' 
oumstanocs  are  unprnpitious.    The  force  is  drop- 
ping oft' by  fatigue  and  sickness  to  a  most  alarming 
extent.    My  returns  yesterday,  report  the  effectives^ 
at  little  more  than  half  their  original  state  at  Cha- ' 
t($augay ;  and,  which  is  more  discouraging,  the  ofB<^ 
cers,  with  a  few  honorable  exceptions,  are  sunk  ait 
low  as  the  soldiers,  and  endure  hardship  and  priva- 
tion as  badly^    In  a  word,  since  the  shew,  produced 
by  clothing,  movQinunts,  &,c.  has  worn  o%  all  have 

19 


*'  ■_  , 


ft 


%i 


}'m 


^•\ji 


■*.,.';j.. 


0' 


#■ 


"*:  '*  *' 


r? 


fc* 


^fc': 


■.;*^.. 


tpj 


■1^  '<>', 


*■ 


iMumed  Qu&r  native  ra#ne»«.  Fatieud  ,^ 
ine  from  Uie  Weather  have  deprivea  them, of  that 
smntf  which  constituted  my  best  hopes*  .MThat  eon- 
ndeince  can  the  best  office^  (and  I  have  a  few  sur- 
passed bv  none)  feel  nnder  such  circumstances  ?  It 
IS  paiiifaVto  hold  up  to  you  this  picture^  but  it  is  but 
too  faithfhlly  drawn.  ,^.-^ 

l^e  quarter  master  general  has  been  order^^io 
pAicute  on  hire  400  waggons,  and  I  shall  attempt  to 
open  a  communication  on  the  direct  route  from  the 
town  of  Ghamplain.  Success,  under  the  circumsti^Qes 
I  have  mentioned,  must  depend  upon  the  efforts  and 
force  opposed  to  me.  The  Aemmstrationj  howey^r, 
can  but  produce  a  partial  good. 
^  On  the  route  I  took,  the  enemy  burnt  and  consuiipd 
every  thing  before  him,  and  this  I  understand  to1>e 
his  general  plan.  If  the  same  course  precede  .%he 
i^d  Vance  of  general  Wilkinson,  and  my  feeble  force 
should  be  foiled,  the  consequences  are  much  to^Jie 
dvetded.  But  the  Rubicon  is  now  passed,  and. all 
JM  remains  is  to  push  for  the  capitol.  ^ 

U  ■  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  1^ 

•■■'V-'--     Sir>  -■     „>     ';,:|; 

V4Bry  respectfully,  il 

,  Your  most  <il)edient  servant, 
W.  HAMPTOXT 


\*i 


■  V  * 


Qfsn.  John  Armstrong, 
hj    Secretary  of  War. 


U:^V! 


',  01  ^i^' 


'■«■  ^,V 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  Major  General  Humpton 
■^  '  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  dated 


rtt0i^\h: 


CHAZEY,.  I^dvember  19)  1813. 


M^/V 


/.,., 


*<  I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  you  the  copy  of  a 


t:«'_ 


letter  I  received  tt^e  last  evening  from  general  Wil- 


i..W-  '. 


,t\.; 


V  ,-^„      ^  t'r'  —>s 


ad  t^jbe 
cede.^%he 
ble  force 
i<;h  io.<J)e 
andall 


rvant, 

ton! 


/*  '*>- 


**  #,  ■  ■■' 

pf^hat 
lat  eoA- 
ew  sur- 

68?^    It 

itUMt 

'  „  '* 

tempt  to 
roni  the 
a8tanc)es 
[Sorts  and    ( 
loweypr, 


lampion 


1813;  • 

rtnv  nf  j» 

ai  wa- 


f 


•«.  "i 


#*J 


4^^ 


V-(ij». 


„.ii. 


£^] 


110 


insoti,  by  colonel  Atkinson,  whom  I  had  sent  to  him 
^^iiiforth(B  piii^ose  of  settling  die  plan  of  our  proposed 
T  joint  operations.    Of  the  consistency  of  this  letter 

^Ivith  that  of  the  6th  instant,  and  my  answer,  or  of 
:^  the  insinuation  it  contains,  I  shall  say  nothing.  Up- 
^'^pftjli^pl       a  case,  and  an  attempt  so  unworthvthe 

;  jbccasion,  common  sense  will  aJBTord  every  explana- 
;^4ion  I  could  wish.     I  shall  make  the  necessary  ar-^ 
rangements  for  placing  the  troops  in  winter  quarters, 
'    liiiid  commence  my  journey  to  the  southward."    :, 


k- 


7 


t 


1:     HEAD  QUARTERS,  NEAR  fioRsVALt,  (u.  C*) 

•    ;  :^:^.^,^^.^i,  ..-.  .i.,^-;^ •,.>-__. Kovcmbcr  i%  181^ 

I  this  day  had  the  honor  to  receive  your  letter 
<^  the  8th  instant  by  colonel  Atkinson,  and  want  lan- 
^age  to  express  my  sorrow  for  your  determination 

%ot  to  join  the  division  under  your  command  witii  the 
troops  under  my  immediate  ordersi  >t 

;  As  such  resolution  defeats  the  grand  objects  of  i)ie 
campaign  in  this  quarter,  which,  before  the  receipt  of 
your  letter,  were  thou^t  td  be  completely  within  our 
power,  no  suspicion  being  entertained  that  you  would 
decline  the  junction  directed,  it  will  oblige  us  to  take 

:  post  at  the  French  Mills,  on  Salmon  river,  or  in  their 
vicinity,  for  the  winter.'  •  i  '^v^!:i^:-i'^y:^^^^'^^f^'0^' ,    . 

-•»'  ■k'^tv.^-vt.i.Ihave-thehonorto  be,  '  ^^-#«^'#.'^^{%.'- 

v.';^»^^f^'-%';^-    Respectfully,  sir,    '  ^"i^'ij',"  ■''::'. 
j^l  .  ^  ^t^^VJx^i^^  most  obedient  servant, 

' '"^'"^^'^  'V.'"^;^9^}^^       WILKINSON.  ■ 

Major  General  Hampton.' ^*'.:'-^^^Cv,  ■''^^u'f^i^^P-^^M 


.  -f.' 


■■,M 


%:i 


4,. 


.  i 


"^ 


'y^ 


.  «■ 


■.<■'• 


■  €» 


.^'.  ,; 


^f'^f . 


,-¥■:'•■ 


Ik' 


•'t 

a"   \ 

>    '♦  ■■ 

T 

f^  l> 

'.'"■*  ii    ' 

r- 

■•■ 

■  M 

■    .  ^_."V,, 

"^ 

'-'"C 

tl'; 

'•■V, 

..-M* 

r  *•• 

#  ■■ 

•^. 

■•W^ 

#• 

*" 

*., 

i.^'*'"/- 

■:'^ 

M'"^ 

, 

•Si. 

■  J  .  ' 

> 

•  )  ', 

■*■• . 

V 

•H  > 


<*' 


'»; 


i>> 


'i^^ 


.>^. 


It 


.»*,  ■'' 


♦ 


i 


■y.  I 


<  *  ■'*V:,-i-!%' 


*!'         .'  y. 


x>-^ 


/*f. 


',» ^     1 1, ,     , 


*  \  ' '  i  I 


i*' 


^ 


""•"^ 


,■..-  i  \ 


\:'M 


vlj-j 


Ah 


,■^♦1 


'■%'. 


f; 


■jf 


^;*7-f 


.'»■ ' 


u,'4y  : .  ^ 


[54] 


*• 


G^rrespondence  between  the  secretary  of  war  ui4  major 
general 'ViTilkinion* 


Subfnitted  to  the  president  by  the  secretary  of  war*  on  the 
83d  July  I  and  communicated  to  general  Wilkinson  on  the 
5   5th  of  August,  1813. 

,  The  time  at  which  we  have  reason  to  expect  an 
ascendency  on  lake  Ontario  has  arrived*  If  our 
bppe»  on  that  head  be  fulfilled,  though  but  for  a 
flihort  period,  we  mtlist  avail  ourselves  of  thecircum- 
8tance»to  give  to  the  campaign  a  new  and  increas- 
ed activity. 

M  For  this  purpose  our  forces  on  the  Ontario  should 
be  cimcentraiea,  because  neither  section  of  them,  as 
they  are  now  divided,  is  competent  to  any  great 
obicct.  H: 

The  point  of  concentration  is  more  doubtful: 
l^t.  If  at  fort  George,  our  utmost  success  can  but 
give  us  the  command  of  the  peninsula,  which,  if 
general  Harrison  succeeds  against  Maiden,  will 
he  of  diminished  interest,  both  to  us  and  to  the 
enemy:  to  us,  because  Maiden  will  more  com- 
pletely cover  our  western  frontier  and  control 
the  savages  than  forts  Geoi^e  and  Erie:  to  the 
enemy,  ^cause  Maiden  lost,  our  inroad  upon  the 
peninsula,  will  but  have  the  effect  oi  shortening, 
not  of  dividing,  the  enemy's  line  of  operations; 
in  a  word,  success  at  this  point  will  not  give  to 
the  campaign  a  character  of  decisvve  advtmUige. 
2d.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  we  make  Sackett's  Har- 
bor the  point  of  concentration,  Kingston  may 
become  the  object  of  our  attack,  which  by  the 
Way,  will  but  be  returning  to  the  original  plan 
of  campaign^  prescribed  to  general  Dearborn. 

-    '  ■  -     ».  -r.      *'■'    A    ■  •':•■•.■       I-  ■    f     •  f      /     ■  ..  •  .I'  .,»- 


«-       .» .-T 


~) 


'.j'^-g.tV-J^:. 


«» 


Cs*] 


fy^- 


This  place  19  of  much  importance  to  the  enemy, 
and  wiH  no  doubt  be^^ef^nded  by  him  with  great 
■     obstinacy,  and  with  all  the  resources  which  ean 
be  safely  drawn  from  other  points.    That  it 
may  be  taken  by  a  joint  application  of  our  naval 
ana  military  means^  is  not  however  to  oe  ques- 
tioned.   The  enclosed  diagram   will  sboW  the 
number  and  character  of  the  enemy's  defences. 
His  batteries  on  No.  1,  cannot  be  sustaii)ed  but 
..4  bj*  his  fleet.    These  carried,  he  is  open  to  i^  de- 
scent at  No.  2  and  3.    If  he  divides  his  force 
between  both,  wc  oppose  one  half  of  his  strength 
'^m  with  the  whole  of  ours.    If  he  concentrates  at 
,-«§  No  2,  we  seize  No.  3,  and  command  both  the 
«   town  and  the  shipping.     If  he  concentrates  at 
^f  No   3,  we  occupy  No.  2,  and  with  nearly  the 
^  same  results. 

Cotemporary  with  this .  movemeipt,  another 
may  be  made  on  the  side  of  Take  Champlain,  indi- 
cating an  intention  of  attacking  Montrei^  <M^  i^6 
dependencies,  and  really  attackmg  them,  if  to  sa^e 
Rinffston,  these  postd  have  been  materially  weak- 
enecT. 

.^d.  Another  and  different  operation)  to  which  our 
||  means  are  competent,  would  b^  a  movenient 
"from  Sackett's  Harbor  to  Madrid  on  the  St. 
Lawrence.  At  this  place  the  riVer  may  be  most 
easily  crossed.  The  ground  opposite  to  it  is  a 
narrow  bluff,  skirted-  by  the  river  on  one  side 
and  a  swamp  of  great  extent  and  Of  difficult  pas- 
sage on  the  other.  This  gained  and  fortified,  oujc 
fl^fc  continuing  to  command  the  water- Une  from 
the  head  of  the  river  to  Qgden^burg,  and  Iftke 
St.  Francis  occupied  with  a  few  gun  boats  and 
;  barges,  the  army  may  march  against  Montreal, 
iy%  in  concept  with  general  Hampton.  The  only 
^!^i.  natural  difficulty  to  the  execution  of  this  plan, 


•4 


,JW 


■&: 


'..^V'. : 


^  •  i 


4» 


;  wpuld  be  preflented  hy  a  branch  of  the  Grand 

river  which  must  be  crossed^  but  fit  this  season,, 

though  deep,  itis  believed  to  be  fordab^. 

Under  the  preceding  supposition  it  is  respectfully 

submitted,  whether  it  will  not  be  most  advisable  ta 

mBkc  Sackett^a  Harbor  the  point  of  concentratipf| 

and  leave  to  the  commanding  general  an  electioQi^ 

(to  be  determined  by  circumstances)  between  the 

two  plans  suggested  under  the  2d  and  3d  heacjf.  ^ 

"^  JOHN  ARMSTRONG. 

#• '     ■  •  ,  .  ■   ,  ■  .1 , .. 

ApproYCtd  and  adopted  83d  July,  1&13* 


'.it  ■■■ 


.  ^■;,a|?.g?t    i 


Washington,  Augi;ist  6,  1813. 


'4 


I  have  examined  the  projects  of  the  campaignj^^ 
intended  for  the  past  and  ensuing  stages  of  it,  on 
the  side  of  Canada,^  which  you  put  into  my  biiadi 
ye^erdit^.    The  novelty  Of  the  subject  to  me«  janj  > 
the  pressure  of  time,  will  prevent  the  dc^berat^  | 
cotisideration  of  it  which  its  importance  merits;^^ 
and  therefore  I  shaft  confine  myself  to  a  few  brteC,; 
observations  touching  the  project  of  the2^ult.^' 
Z  Ist.  If  we  command  lake  Ontario   (without  ^ 
w^h  the  project  is  impracticable),  arid  our  ferce^^^ 
be  competent  to  carry  Kingston,  the  incorporation 
of  our  troops  should  take  place  at  Sackett'l  Har^ 
bor,  and  the  attack  be  made  as  promptly  as  pos*> 
Ifyble. 

2d.  On  the  contrary,  should  our  combined  dis«> 
posable  force  be  deemed  incompetent  to  the  certain 
and  speedy  reduction  of  Kingston,  then  it  may  be 
Referable  to  strengthen  our  force  at  fort  Georae^ 
c|jt  op  the  British  force  in  that  quarter,  destroy  tht  "^ 
In^n  eitaj^bments,  and  (should  general  Ifiar- ' 


H' 


f>  K  y 


[54] 


W-y 


.  -'V 


,j|-'i?s 


Tison  fail  in  his  obiects)  inarch  si  detachtn^nt  to 
capture  Maiden. 

While  these  operations  are  pending,  a  bold 
feint  or  provisional  attack  on  Montreal,  by  ina* 
jor  general  Hampton,  will  certainly  call  sir  George 
Prevost  to  that  place;  and  it  is  presumable,  that 
seeing  our  movements  directed  towards  Eriej  he 
may  carry  his  best  tropos  ivHh  him  from  KingS' 
ton*       ■ 

These  suggestions  spring  from  my  desire  to  ha- 
zard as  little  as  possible  in  the  outset,  and  to  sc 
cure  infalliby  whatever  may  be  attempted,  with 
the,  intention  to  increase  our  pwn  conndence,  to 
diminish  that  of  the  enemy,  and  to  popularise  the 
war. 

;  After' pur  o|)erations  on  the  peninsula  have  been 
closed,  we  may  raze  the  works  there  under  your 
provisions,  leave  our  settlements  on  the  strait  in 
tranquillity,  and  like  lightniilg  must  direct  our 
whole  force  against  Kingston;  and  having  reduced 
that  place,  and  captured  the  shipping,  we  may 
descend  the  stream,  and  forni  a  junction  with  the 
column  of  general  ^ampton  in  the  nighborhood 
of  Montreal  should  the  lateness  of  the  season  per- 
mit, by  which  all  our  movements  after  the  con- 
quest of  Upper  Canada  must  be  governed.  ^I^j - 
r  To  give  general  Hampton's  movements  a  me- 
nacing aspect,  and  to  enable  him  to  profit  by 
events,  he  should  take  with  him  a  Jieavy  train  of 
battering  cannon  and  mortar  pieces,  which  will 
be  found  indispensable  in  the  attack  of  Montreal; 
and  to  weaken  that  place,  and  to  favoi*  a  pro- 
tracted  season,  I  would  advise  that  a  heavy  co- 
lumn of  militia  or  volunteers,  if  engaged  for  three 
months  only,  should  be  put  in  motion  from  the 
vicinity  of  lake  Memphramagog,  to  descend  the 
river  St.  Francis,  and  take  post  on  the  right  bank 


a 


t- 


&^" 


to 


4|l 


[541 


!tM.&ii:.l!IU 


im^ 


df  lake  St.  Fetre,  with  a  battering  train  of  travel- 
ing carriages,  organized  and  equipteitlier  to  keep 
post  or  retire  when  the  season  or  other  circum- 
stances should  render  experlient. 
.Before  I  close  this  letter,  I  will  be^  leave  to  tdA\ 
your  attention  to  several  specific  points,  on  which 
I  require  information  and  authority^  which  I  deem 
.  essential  to  the  salutary  discharge  of  the  high  and 
solemn  trust  about  to  devolve  upon  me.  '^?* 

^^  Ist.  A  copy  of  the  instructions  to  major  general 
Itauipton,  for  my  government  in  the  correspon- 
;  dence  to  ensue  between  us. 

2d.  Shall  1  be  allowed  a  private  secretary,  which 

is  necessary,  and  of  right  belongs  to  the  command 

on  which  I  am  about  to  enter?  ''^ 

dd.  I  require  permission  to  take  for  my  aids  de 

v^camp  such  officers  aS  are  best  fitted  to  discharge 

^  the  important  duties  of  the  station.  ^ 

^     4th.   I  ask  authority  (or  is  it  uUderstood  that 

^Bj^i  possess  it)  to  supply  every  defect  of  the  muni- 

i^-t^ans  of  war  and  transport  by  land  or  ivater  by 

Tineans  of  the  authorised  ageiits.  '        / 

.  ^     ^k  I  entreat  that  ample  funds  may  be  deposit" 

'|.^.  in  proper  hands,  to  give  effect  to  the  depart- 

.*i:^ixient  of  intelligei)ce,  without  which  the  cbiet  will 

find  himself  hood  ivinked. 
^  6th.  I  trust  no  order  of  whatever  nature  will 
^v  be  passed  to  any  officer  under  my  command,  but 
<;  through  my  hands.  This  is  not  only  necessary 
4^  to  the  regular  conduct  of  the  public  service,  but  it 
»l^  is  vitally  essential  to  the  preservation  of  soutid 
j^y  subordination,  and  is  conformable  to  the  rules  of 
4  service  in  all  armies,  inasmuch  as  he  who  is  re- 
'4-  sponsible  for  all  should  have  the  control  of  all. 

7th   I  hope  I  may  be  expressly  authorised  to 

.    detach  from  my  command  all  persons  who  may 

4^  manifest  a  temper  or  dispo»tions  to  excite  discon- 


.  U-,"^ 


I 
■I 

ft 


Ik'     ' 


tents,  to  generate  factions*  or  imbiiter  the  servicft: 
This  is  indispensable  to  put  down  seditious  spirits^ 
*  and  to  harmoAise  the  corps. 

8th.  Should  we  move  against  Kingston  |n  the 
first  instance,  the  withdrawal  of  our  force  from 
fort  George  wiM  enable  the  enemy  ]to  re  occupy 
that  point,  and  for  a  brief  period  to  harass  our 
frontier  on  that  strait.  May  not  the  militia  or  a 
body  of  volunteers  be  called  forth  to.  relieve  the 
regular  troops  at  that  place,  and  prevent  discon- 
tents and  complaints. 

9th  For  the  maintenance  of  the  necessary  au- 
thority of  the  chief,  it  is  hoped  thb  secretary  of 
war  will  decline  and  forbid  all  correspondence 
with  his  subordinate  officers,  except  in  c^ses  of 
personal  grievance. 

lOth.  f  beg  to  be  advised  of  the  means  of  comr 
munication  between  our  military  positions,  and 
particularly  from  Sackett's  Harbor  to  Burlijfigtoni 
which  should  be  rapid  and  infallible. 
>  €lth.  I  ask  authority  to  equip  the  whole  of  our 
borse  artillery,  and  to  mount  the  whole  ^f  our 
dragoons,  because  these  arms  will  be  foujad  all 
important  in  evet*y  combat  which  may  ensui^.  ^ 

A  serious  impressidn  of  the  dread  responsibility 
which  awaits  me,  and  a  correct  sense  of  the  public 
expectation  which  accompanies  me,  must  bQ  iny 
i^logy  for  giving  you  so  much  trouble. 

With  perfect  respect, 

\  have  the  honor  to  be, 

^,  your  obedient  servant, 

.    M.  WILKINSON. 


v-^^'lUboorable  John  Armstrong, 
"  ■.:j     'fttcrctiiry  at  wir. 


'm'l 


^wt 


y.  -'^i^ 


'^ 


-mr 


SIR, 


WAR  DEPARTMENT.      ^-^ 

AugvfttSth,  iai3.  , 


;  I  have  given  to  your  observations  of  the  6th  iit^ 
stant  all  the  consideiration  they  so  justly  merit.     K 

The  main  objection  to  any  plan,  which  shall 
carry  our  operations  wide  of  Kingston  and  west- 
ward of  it,  is»  that  in  the  event  of  its  success,  it 
leavies  the  strength  of  the  enemy  unbroken;  it  but 
wounds  the  tail  of  the  lion^arud  of  course,  is  not 
calculated  to  hasten  the  termination  of  the  war, 
either  by  increasing  our  own  vigor,  or  by  dimi- 
nishing  that  of  the  enemy.  Kingston  is  the  great 
depot  of  his  resources,  and  so  long  as  he  retains 
this  and  keeps  open  his  communication  with  the 
sea,  he  will  not  want  the  means  of  multiplying  his 
naval  and  other  defences,  and  of  reinforcing  or 
renewing  the  war  in  the  west.  King$t<miSem^i> 
fore,  as  well  on  grounds  of  policy  as  of  militaiy 
principle,  presents  the  jftr^  and  great  object  of  the 
campaign. 

There  are  two  ways  of  approaching  this;  by  di* 
rec^,  or  hy  indirect  attack:  by  breaking  down  the 
enemy's  battalions  and  forcing  his  works-~or  by 
seizing  and  obstructing  the  line  of  his  communioa*^ 
tion,  and  thus  drying  up  the  sources  by  which  he 
is  nourished  and  maintained.  Circumstances  must 
govern  in  choosing  between  these  different  modes. 
Were  our  assembled  land  and  naval  forces  compe- 
tent libhe  object,  a  direct  attack  would  no  doubt 
be  th^^orter  and  better  way;  but  if,  on  the  con- 
trary, ouiFstrength  be  inferior,  or  hardly  equal  to 
that  of  the  enemy,  the  indirect  attack  must  be  jpr^-^ 
ferred.  These  considerations  have  suggested  the 
third  plan,  to  be  found  in  my  note  •[  the  26d  uU 


!      s 


i-'i'iii^-t..-'":;  ■ 


*» 


m 


t 


timo.  To  give  execution  to  this,  I  would  collect 
my  force  at  the  head  of  the  $t.  Lawrence,  make 
eviery  demonstration  of  attacking^  Kingston,  pro- 
ceed rapidly  down  the  river,  seize  the  northern 
bank  at  the  village  of  Hamilton,  leave  a  corps  to 
fortify  and  to  hold  it,  march  upon  Montreal  with 
the  main  body,  eflfect  there  a  junction  with  Hamp* 
ton,  and  take  a  position  which  shall  enable  you  to 
secure  what  you  gain.  On  this  plan,  the  navy 
would  perform  its  part  by  occupy ing  the  mouth  of 
the  river,  and  preventing  a  pursuit  by  water;  by 
clearing  the  river  of  the  armed  boats  of  the  enemy; 
by  holding,  with  its  own,  the  passage  al  Hamilton, 
and  by  giving  support  to  that  position,  ^f  the  ene- 
my pursues,  it  must  be  by  land,  without  subsist- 
ence, (excepting  what  he  carries  on  his  buck)  and 
without t  artillery.  If  he  remains  stationary,  his 
situation  must  soon  become  even  more  serious,  as 
the  country  in  which  he  is  cannot  long  subsist  him. 
It  will  then  but  remain  for  l\tia  to  fight  his  way  to 
Quebec,  to  perish  in  the  attempt,  or  to  lay  down 
^is  arms.  After  this  exposition,  it  is  unnecessary 
to  add,  that  in  conducting  the  present  campaign, 
you  will  make  Kingston  your  primary  objeci^  and 
that  you  will  choose  (as  circumstances*  may  war- 
rant) between  a  direct  and  indirect  attack  upon 
that  post. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be. 
With  great  respect, 
M^-j^  Sir,  your  most  obdt.  servt 

tS!S.;  .:    JOHN  ARMSTR^G. 

Major  general  Wilkinson,  '"^ 

■f^j-        commanding  district  No.  9. 


■'?3i, 


«r 


• 


i*i-^.4<M*"-  i9i^'^^^i'i'^M^^'^-.'i^i^wii''^''\y^    <■ 


aX\ 


Sd. 

pr 
3d.  ! 

CO 

4th. 
su 

5th. 
the 
be 
ma 
ofii 

«th. 
vin 
prq 
por 
mei 

''!« 
dvHi 

7t!i, 

wor 

com 


.A^.. 


w*&^- 


'.'  -t 


t 


L«. 


Vit*-  ' 


[54] 


■»  .■■■■•l 


» 


0* 


WAR  DEPiRTMEJirtr, 


August  9,  1813.  , 

SIB, 

'"     ■         ■  ■  '.  ?jc>  ,■      ■  ■     • 

In  answer  to  thftJ;  part  of  your  letter  of  the  dth 

instant,  which  calls  for  information,  &c.  on  cer^ 

tain  enumerated  points,  I  have  the  honor  to  state: 

l8^>  That  general  Hampton's  instructions  ato  only 
tp  assemble  and  organize  his  division  at  ourlings 
ton.     It  is  intended  that  he  shall  operate  cotent^l 
porariiy  with  you,  and  under  your  orders,  in 
.  prpsecution  of  the  plan  of  campaign  which  has 
.be^n  given  to  you. 

Sd.  The  senior  major  general  cpmmanding  the 

,   principal  army  is  entitled  to  the  services  of  a 

.;  private  secretary. 

^k  The  ordnanc#  and  other  departments  of  sup^ 
,.  ply  within  tl^  district  (No.  9)  are  subject  of 
course  to  your  orders. 

4th.  The  quarter-master  general  of  the  army  wilt 
supply  the  funds  foi*  s^ret  service. 

5th'.  All  orders  to  subordinate  officers  pass  frontv 
the  war  department  to  the  adjutant  general,  tot 
be  communicated  by  him  to  the  general  com^^ 
.  manding  the  district  in  which  such  subordinate 
officer  may  serve.  '^^^^^^^ 

6th.  No  specific  permission  is  necessary  for  remo- 
ving factious  or  disorderly  men.    All  such  will 
properly  -  become  subjects  of  the  confidential  re- 
ports to  be  made  by  inspectors.  To  detach  sucli^ 
men  from  one  district  to  another,  is  only  shifV 
ing  the  evil;  the  better  way  is  to  report  them  for 

7th.  if  the  corps  at  fort  Oporge  be  recalled,  thci; 
works  should  be  razed  or,  occupied  by  a  force 
competent  to  hold  it  against  an  assmilt.    There 

*2 


19 


r-,;  ..L 


[3*J 


t, 


,.tl^.. 


.  I» 


18  a  corps  of  militia  and  volunteers  (to  whom 
the  Six  Nation  Indians  have  associated  the^n* 
';  selves)  at  Black  Rock,  which  may  be  kept  in 
^  service.    They  are  commanded  by  general  Por- 
^^  ter  and  Mr.  I^ilrrish.    [See  the  confidential  let- 
'^  ter  of  general  Porter  enclosed.] 
8th  The  secretary  of  war  will  decline  and  forbid 
all  improper  communications,  and  particularly 
such  as  mav  bear  any  color  of  insubordination. 
0th   Besides  the  ordinary  mode  of  commuillcaiion 
by  mail,  expresses  may  be  employed  in  extra- 
ordinary cases. 
10th.  The  dragoon  and  V'  St  artillery  corps  shall 
be  made  efficient.    Hones  may  be  bought  for 
^^  both.    An  officer  from  each  corps  should  be  d!- 
^  rected  to  superintend  the  purchases.      Pricp 
^  (avenlge)  not  to  exceed  120  dollars. 


I  have  the  honor  to%e, 
With  great  respect, 
Sir,  your  most  obdt  Servt. 

JOHN  ARMSTRONG. 


Major  general  WilkinM>n, 

.commanding  the  northern  army. 


^vS^v  .f  ?i^*^#.tiV     Sackett'8  Harbor,  August  tut,  ISfS^- 

fIR, 

I  arrived  here  yesterday:  my  machinery  is  in 
motion,  and  I  have  strons  hopes  of  giving  the 
change  to  sir  George  which  will  lead  directly  fiO 
the  (Hnect  of  first  importance' 


ttOl 

initi 

firi 

t*r 

lak( 

Ch( 

den 

tod 

dete 

0 

Wo 

fort 

vorii 

suco 

meai 

be  in 

onti 

eithei 

comn 

'•    give  I 

I  sha 

suing 

ment. 

colun 

Geoi^ 

might 

saluta 

The 

ofwh 

shoulc 

fort 

would 
counte 
of  man 


.a 


Mi- 


[A*3 


Commodore  Chauncey  is  in  port  here»nd  his 
aoUgonistySir  Suaics  Yeo,  at  Kingilon:  In  the  late 
interview  s  M^^een  these  naval  commanders  the 
first  has  zealously  sought  a  combat,  which  the  lat- 
t^  has  cautiously  avoided;  the  superiority  on  the 
lake  therefore  remains  still  to  be  settled;  but  I  have 
Chauooey's  assurance  for  it  and  place  much  confi- 
dence in  his  word;  it  is  obviously  sir  James*  plan  ^ 
to  decline  a  conflict;  but  on  what  ground  I  cannot 
deterojiine. 

Our  schooner  here  will  be  e(|uipt  and  manned  by 
Wednesday,  and  I  shall  sail  with  the  squadron  for; 
fort  George  probably  the  day  after;  I  am  endea* 
voring  to  draw  sir  George  after  me;  but  whether  I ' 
succeed  in  this  attempt  or  not,  should  our  men  and ' ' 
means  answer  report,  and  Heaven  favor  me,  I  wilt^ 
be  in  possession  of  Kingston,  or  below  that  place, 
on  the  2dth  proximo. 

Major  general  Hampton  must  not  budge  until  . 
every  thing  is  matured  in  this  quarter,  and  we  havoxf 
either  got  possession  of  Kingston  or  have  cut  its  '^ 
communication  with  Montreal,  of  which  I  shall^ 
give  him  seasonable  advice,  via  Plattsburgh,  where  ^ 
I  shall  calculate  on  his  arrival  the  20th  of  the  en-"^^ 
suing  month  completely  equipt  for  a  forward  move-  f^; 
ment.  If  he  changes  his  position  and  shows  his  ^ 
column  west  of  the  lake  sooner,  it  may  carry  sir 
Greoige  to  Montreal  and  produce  precautions  which  l[ 
might  otherwise  be  neglected  until  too  late  for  any  '^' 
salutary  effect.  '^: 

The  militia  called  forth  by  governor  Tompkinij^; ' 
of  which  by  the  bye  you  gave  me  no  information, '' 
lAiould  not  be  arrayed  before  he  hears  from  me  at  ^ 
fort  Greorge,  because  the  assembly  of  such  a  body 
would  increase  the  alarm  and  put  all  Guiada  in 
counter  motion^  while  iacidents  beyond  the  control 
of  man  may  intervene  to  procrastinate  my  more-- 


■  ^.1 


i 


I     i- 


It 


[54J 


^''K'*-' 


...Ms  and  thus  baffle  the  effects  of  the  proposed 
co-operation  on  the  side  of  Vermont:  8hciafd|iCorj)S-f 
of  militia  be  drawn  from  thence,  ho  rooyertiei^t 
should  be  made  by  them,  until  general  Hait^pto^* 
has  crossed  Champlain.  \  ^  ^  ^^  tK^ 

5  .It  would  be  highly  interesting  to  the  pubfic^cfir- 
vice  and  extremely  acceptable  to  me  to  see  y^f^u  It 
Niagara,  from  whence,  should  I  find  it  practtcabli^' 
it  is  my  intention  to  commence  my  moveii)i^EK^^ 
down  the  lake,  about  the  15th  of  the  next  mibnth^;- 
the  best  possible  disposition  for  the  safety  of  that 
frontier,  and  for  the  security  of  the  vast  mt^ss  6f 
ordnance  and  stores  which  I  must  leave  there,  may 
render  your  advice  and  authority  indispensably  ne- 
cessary to  avert  clamors  and  prevent  any  obstrue;^ 


tion  to  my  prompt  movement. 

With  high  consideration  and  rcfspect, 
k<  ^ ''-  *  ^    I  am,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 
i         JA.  WILKliJ^SON. 


jt'^' 


«•-"*• 


Hon.  Jphn  Armstrong,  secretary  of  war 


,„t''i^+.    i'fim. 


f/: 


^       '   ■*  „    ■ 


''"•-  ■  >v:  '^'f^'f-^--:^^'k  ^'Sackett's  Harbor,  Augtwt  26,- 1^^%  ^ 

Cha.uncey  will  go  out,  he  says,  to-morronir  or 
next  day  to  seek  sir  James.  I  see  the  necessity  of  set- 
tling the  point  of  naval  superiority  before  we  com- 
mit ourselves,  and  therefore,  the  decision  cannot^ 
be  had  too  soon.  In  the  mean  time  the  essential 
arhingements  progress,  and  if  the  means  can  be 
mustered,  they  wiU  ensure  the  end.  .  ^'^if' 

I  feaf  Yeo  will  avoid  a  contest  to  spin  out  the 
campaign^  and  gain  time  for  reinforcements,  knd 
the  oiigfl^ization  of  nulitint^  but  if  he  will  not.  coiae 


''!^'#**l*t    V'V,ft!(i'    ';«*..S'>*4«i»».w.-J*-«*'*»;J    'J*    ■-..-..■'"■':  ■-••5'.  ;i 


•*rfS 


'  s 


AptQ|l  * 

ic  m^-- 


)fth»t 
ass  6f 
;,  may 


V 


.;a 


ow  or 
of  set- 
5Com- 
:annot 
sential 
can  be 

ut  the 

},  knd 

come 


t|f 


out;  we  must  .blockade  him.    I  go  for  Niagara  tl^e 
moment  diir  arrangements  are  matured  here.    Sir- 
George  has  actually  gone  for  the  head  of  the  lake 
v^t/H^  a  peinforcement.     "To  prevent  his ,  playing ; 
tiricks  with  Boyd,  I  have  sentpim  (Buyd)  the  note 
of  which  you  have  a  copy. 

On  Saturiday,  21st,  one  hundred  and  sixty  regur^ 
lar  troops  ascended  by  Ogdensburg  to  Kingston^ 
and  on  the  23d  and  24th,  they  were  followed  by  , 
fiVe  hundred  highlanders  in  their  kelts.  Who  con- 
ducted up  one  hundred  boats:  thus  we  see  that  this  ■ 
quarter  attracts  chief  attention.     All  my  efforts  j 
will  bei  made  to  induce  sir  Georgei  to  draw  after  > 
him  a  chief  part  of  the  garris^cn  of  iCingston» 
which  must  now  be  near  five  thousand  Strong. 
The  sttuittion  of  Proctor  and  the  irruption  of  our 
Indians  have  gone  far  to  excite  these  dispositions.  . 
Meet  me  at  Niagara,  if  possible,  and  tor  God^s  ] 
sake  press  ori  the  recruits  from  Albany  and  the  t 
southwardvand  send  me  Wadsworth,  Swift,  Fen-  i 
wick,  and  Izard.     All  things  go  well  here,  and  s^ 
thank  God,  the  men  are  recv)vering  rapidly.    I  f 
hear  not  a  word  from  Hi^napton.     I  hope  he  does  j, 
not  mean  to  take  the  stud;  but  if  so,  we  can  do,  (t 
wUfaout  him,  and  he  should  be  sent  home.         'tt^ 


^         :,4- 


Tm}y  yours, 


J  A.  WILKINSON,  ^^s 

General  Armstrong,  secretary  of  war.  ,    8fe^ 


,r  ■),. 


'  SackeltS  Harbor,  August  30,4«ia  w"^^ 

Extract  of  a  letter  from  major  general  Wilkinson  to  the  se«   ^ 

cretary  of  war.  -    ff 

With  every  exertion  he  could; ^fike»  it  was  not ;, 
«atU|he  last  eveflii^^ 


i, 


■■I* 


'V  >  ■ 


'14 


^54] 


T  1)  • 


m\ 


\  .:■ 


m 


lind  the  weather  being  calm^  he  musi'l^'^^^^h 
this  harbor. 

Agreeably  to  my  information,  sir  Jailies  Yeo 
sailed  for  the  head  of  the  lake  the  22d  inst.  with 
the  two  captured  schooners  in  addition  to  his 
squadron,  no  doubt  to  co*operate  with  sir  Georgp,^^ 
but  did  not  get  clear  of  the  ducks  before  the  25tn. 

Brigadier  general  Boyd  is  warned  of  this  move^, 
rrient,  and  being  placed  on  his  guard,  he  ought  to 
bafHe  every  enterprise  of  the  enemy— what  an 
awful  crisis  have  I  reached.  If  sir  Georgfe  beats 
Boyd,  and  sir  James,  Chauncey,  my  prospects  are 
blasted,  and  the  campaign  will,  I  fear,  be  lost/  If 
sir  Geoi^e  beats  Boyd,  and  Ghauiicey  beats  ^ir 
James,  Kingston  yet  may  be  ours;  but  should  both 
tb<^  knights  be  beaten,  and  our  quarter-master  cah 
fmd  tran^ort  in  season  (of  which  I  have  fear8,:as 
I  found  next  to  none  here)  then  we  shall  certain* 
1y  Winter  in  Montreal,  if  not  discomfitted  t»y  some 
act  of  God*  If  t  could  have  mustered  three  thdu- 
sand  combatants  on  this  around,  with  transport  to 
bear  them,  I  would  now  have  been  before  Kings- 
ton,  where  sir  George  has  left  only  one  thousand 
five  hundred  regular  troops,  and  about  fivehuih^ 
dred  militia;  but  our  utmost  force  is  ihort  of  twa 
thousand  five  hundrrd,  as  you  will  perceive  froix^ 
the  enclosed  return,  and  we  could  not  have  found 
boats  to  transport  one  thousand. 

The  enemy  having  determhied  to  change  his 
system  of  operations  from  defence  to  oifence,  is  as-^ 
sembling  his  whole  disposable  force  at  the  head  of 
the  lake  to  attack  fort  George;  thus  placing  him- 
self at  too  great  a  distance  from  Montreal  to  give 
seasonable  succor  to  that  city;  he  certainly  pre- 
sumes on  our  imbecility  and  we  as  certainly  should 
take  ftdvantage  of  his  presumption 

Thct  inilitia  called  lor  should  theicfbrel^  ii^Uxie*^ 


:.-*:. 


les  Yeo 

It.  with 

to  his 

Jreorge^^ 

igfht  to 
^fc  an 
\  beats 
ct^ar^ 
Jt;    If 
iats  ^ir 
dbpth 
ercati 
ire,  as 
irtaSn-  1 
some 
th6u-| 
6rtto  I 
ings-  f 
tsand 
hum- 
'  tw^  ^^ 
from     . 
)und    > 


his 


irc- 
uld 


I 


nc* 


V.    > 


%'-r.i: 


\  % 


V^^ 


A 


«'. 


[54] 


la* 


^iijteiy  ftiriiye<l  and  inarched  to  this  fironHeK  and 
titajor  general  Hampton  should  without  delay 
cross  the  Champlain,  and  commence  his  rnQVe- 
inent  towards  St.  Johns,  taking  the  Isle  m  Naux 
ipi  his  route  or  not,  as  circumstances  may  justify. 

vFour  thousand  of  the  best  appointed  yeomanry 
should  be  ordered  to  rendezvous  at  Hamilton^'  on 
the  St.  Lawrence*  for  eventual  operations  with  this 
division^  and  the  residue  may  accompany  or  fol- 
low Hampton,  to  draw  the  miKtia  4}f  Montreal 
and  ttie  di^^posable  force  of  the  lower  country*  to 
theMt^f  the  St.  Lawitnc^^  and  thereby  make 
the  island  an  easy  conquest  from  this  quarter. 

.|fir  ijieoi^ge  Prevost  It  would  seem  has  taken  his 
pcut,  and  deluded  by  the  hope  of  reconquest,  has 
abandoned  his  rear  to  our  enterprise,  and  we  might 
now  without  the  co«K>peration  of  our  squadroiv 
safely  occupy  Madrid,  and  cut  the  communication 
of  the  two  provinces  with  this  division  only,  if 
we  bad  transports;  but  of  this  we  are  totally  desti- 
lute,  every  boat  we  command  here  being  at  thia 
time  absent  with  a  detachment  of  eight  hundred 
DUeh,  .ordered  to  make  a  feint  to  the  westward 
tinder  pretence  of  reinforcing  Niagara  before  I  waft^. 
apprised  of  sir  George's  movements. 


^ 


%/ 


-'.mc" 


Si% 


^ftC;kett>  Harbor,  Atuf«30>  1813,  ^o'clock  f .  it 


^ 


,  1  have  commenced,  barely,  the  arran^ment 
th^  department  of  intelligence;  an  intelligencer  "^ 
left  Kingston  or  its  vicuiity,  last  evening,  to  tell  me  > 
that  sir  GepigePrevost  had  commenced  his  oper>  "^ 
rations  aeainst  Boyd,  and  had  driven  in  Ms  pir  ^^ 
quets  ana  taken  sixty  or  seventy  prbonerSj  bat  had^ 


'MiT**" 


'^>:-.r...^_... 


■va 


<■  • 


^!,    io 


?  I-- 


„)l 


ibecin  repulsed  from  his  Tine  of  encatnipnlifit.  ^1^ 
toilitia  of  Montreal  are  at  King;8ton/and  reihfpi^i^ 
meiits  b^  single  hundreds  are  arriving 'fr^queifii||/; 
four  hundred  riien  Mre  expected  in  the^obrse^ 
the  week. 

'  The  force  at  Kingston  is  2000  men  /regulars 
IdOO,  iriilitia  500 )  Major  general  Darrachcom- 
mahidS,  and  they  are  assiduously  stren'^rhenifig 
theiip  wbrks.  Sir  Jahies  Veb  sAiledWitFi  bixwo^^ 
provisions,  expressly  to  co-operate  witli  sir  Gfeprg^ 
itt  the  head  of  the  lake;  a  double  battle  and  4 
double  victory  offer  a  strong  temptation;  but  1  ^Sll 
not  be  diverted  from  my  course. 
'  t  have  written  governor  Tompkins  on  the  l^ubjepjb 
offt  drtiift  of  militia  for  the  strait  of  Niagara,  to  8U|»- 
ply  the  absence  of  our  troops  of  the  line  arti!  pre- 
vent clamor,  but  have  not  been  SO  happj/  tis  io  re- 
ceive an  acknowledgment  of  my  letteh  ,     . 

With  perfect  respect,  .,k 

>j  Your  obedient  servant,  ■ 

JA:  WlLKir^SON. 


The  honorable  John  Armstrong, 
secretary  of  war. 


sen 

ordc 

Isle 

ptaci 
coui 


0, 


f 

- 


'# 


^mi 


•"^i 


Ji^''^.-hm 


.«*" 


War  Department,  Sept.  6, 1813,  Sackett'a  Harbor. 

DEAR  GENERAL, 

I  arrived  here  yesterday.  Nothing  pew,  ex- 
cepting that  Prevost  has  i^eturhied  to  Jtiiigstoq. 
Gen.  H'ainpttoh  will  go  t^btfeh  the  campaign  coi^; 
dially  and  vigorously,  l^iit  will  resign  at j^he  en^] 
of  it.  He  will  be  Veady  to  move  by  tte  2uth  wi|b' 
ah  effective  regular  force  of  4,000,  and  >i  militia  de- 
tachment of  1,500;    Oh  the  stjppositibh  that  sir 


■L3iW 


uLiMik 


'  •  'I    " 

<  ■ 


fhenihgj 
t  week^ 

and  4 

It  i  win 


to  SU|(^ 
ndjire- 
iio  re- 


Mi-'^r 


;*•»!.*< 


m.  Ic-' ■**»J\-':,*#; 


[54] 


»• 


.'S  ■.■•..*.v.-%*-i/r 


JL-J. 


i^eorge  had  dec'idedly  taken  his  part,  and  badcbOr 
sen  the  penimuta  as  his  champ  de  bataille^I  had 
i>jrdered  Hainptdn  to  move  immediately  againpt  the 
isjb  aux  No^x  2,000  militia  will  be  promptly  a«- 
sembled  at  Champion,  twenty- four  miles  from  this 
place,  and  on  the  route  to  the  St*  Lawrence.  The 
pkce  was  selected,  as  offering  two  objects,  and  of 
course  leaving  his  knightship  to  guess.  To  have 
pushed  them  directly  to  Ogdensburgh,  would  not 
have  liad  that  advantage.  A  larger  draft  would 
have^beeii  difficult.  Another  view  of  the  subject  i^ 
that  this  part  of  the  plan  cannot  be  confided  tomt'*^ 
litia  exclusively;  they  must  be  propped  by  arc^i^- 
lar  corps,  otherwise  the  back  door  may  not  besuCir; 
ficiently  closed  and  barred. 

The  battle  on  the  lake!  Shall  we  have  one?  If 
Yeo  figbts  and  is  beaten,  all  will  be  well.  If  he  does 
not  fight,  the  result  may  also  be  favorable. 

Yours  ^j^rdially, 

'     JOHN  ARMSTRONG.  ^ 

€i:0|^ral  Wilkinson.  i  >« 


/.  ^J'l 


,-T'   J 


rbor. 


v",  ex- 

gston* 

1  COI^j 

end; 

iade* 

,  ■  *-■)>- 

It  str 


1  " 

Extract  of  a  letter  from  major  general  Wilkinson  to  the 
secretary  of  war,  dated  fort  George,  11th  Sept.  1813* 

^  I  ht^ye  indulged  the  hope  for  several  days  past 
th^t  I  should  have  been  enabled  to  address  you  in 
propria  personee,  but  in  this  I  have  been  baffled  by 
a  severe  and  unremittii^  malady  which  obliges 
me  to  resort  to  the  pen  of  a  common  friend. 

>  'M  reached  this  place  the  evening  of  the  4th. 
Commbdore  Chauncey  at  that  time  occupied  the 
ha^rbor;  and  sir  James  Y^o  with  the  British  squa- 
dron was  vaporing  in  front  of  it.  This  state  of 
things  contmued  without  any  material  change,  un- 
til the  evening  of  the  7th,  when  a  light  laud  breeze 

*3 


/-.' 


^^^^■t  ' 

'  ,.. 

^^^B^B 

•■.■'» 

^^^^^^^^t ' 

^^^^^^^^^^B  ■ 

*  ■ 
• 

^^^^■^ 

^^^^^^H  -' 

J*- 

^^^^^^^Hf  > 

15=. 

^^^^^^^^^^Hlr 

'V    '  '    " 

^^^^^^^^^■f 

■  ^, 

:  u  'C 

^^^^^^^^^^v 

■  :A*' 

^^^^^^^^^|H' 

^  "v 

^^^^^^^^^Bs  ' 

'  f-^*-.' . 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^H  r 

■     (C     i         » 

^^^^^^^^K  ■■ 

^^^^^^^^m  'i 

'      r 

^^^^^^H 

V"- 

^^^^^^^^^^^K . 

■' , 

i  f 

^^^^^^H. ,' 

f- 

^^^^^^^B;  ' 

1  'i ' 

^^^^^M 

1  . 

^^^^^^B ; 

,  * 

^^^^H; 

1 

^^^^^K 

\ 

^^^^■' 

, , 

^^^H 

i' 

^^^^^H' 

L" 

^^^^^^^H'l 

r^ 

^B 

, 

^^^^^^^^H'  \ 

.f' 

^^^H 

- 

^^^^^^^^^^R 

\ 

^^^^^^^^B 

^^^^^^^^^^v 

>,* 

^^^^^^^^^^^^n 

t'» 

,   -f 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H 

, 

^^^^^udH^^v ' 

'  ^ 

^^^I^^^^B 

:  ' 

^^^^^^^^H| 

t  . 

^^^^^^^H 

I 

'      s 

^^^^^^^^^^^^K 

^^^^^^^Hv ' 

' 

^^^^^^^^^^Hl 

* 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^■K 

I^^^^^^^B 

i  ■» 

^^^^^^^^^^HH 

^^^^^^^^^1'  1 

^^^^^^^^^^HjK 

, 

^^^^^^^^^1 

^ 

^^^^^^^B 

I  i 

^^^^^^B ! 

:  I"    ~ 

^^^^^^^^^^B  , 

!"«■* 

^^^^^HB 

J-u 

j^H^^HR 

: 

^^^^H 

'£  ' 

^^^^^^^^^M 

1  •   ' 

^^^^^^^^^^Hfl 

il 

^^^^H^HSj 

■ :, 

^.^■■^ 


,*■ 


18 


[54] 


J^ir.- 


v5ffll 


l^ave  to  the  commodore  an  opportunity  of  fitaricif- 
nig  out  to  meet  the  enemy.  The  two  squadrons 
were  about  two  leagdes  asunder,  of  con^qu^nce 
fln  action  appeared  inevitable:  yet  so  it  has  happen- 
ed, that,  since  that  period,  until  about  five  o'clock, 
yesterday,  P.  M.  these  two  naval  armaments  hiive 
Kept  from  4  to  8  miles  distant,  without  having  esf- 
chans;ed  a  single  shot,  or  done  to  each  other  the 
smallest  visibm ,  damage.  The  British  uniformly 
on  the  retreat,  and  the  American  in  pursuit. 

"  General  Peter  B.  Porter  left  me  to  day,  properly 
authorised  and  instructed  to  bring  into  operation 
a  corps  of  the  Six  Nation  Indians,  which  he  pro* 
poses  to  increase  to  1000  men,  by  volunteers  from 
the  militia,  and  is  disposed  to  be  busy  4nd  active 
wherever  he  may  be  directed. 
,^, "  I  hear  nothing  of  brigadier  general  M*Clure, 
arid  the  New  York  militia.  I  shall  mature  my 
plans  for  embarkation,  as  rapidly  as  the  difficulties 
which  may  oppose  me  can  be  matured;  but  we 
are  greatly  dencient  in  transport,  and  have  not  re- 
ceived a  single  boat  from  Oswego  or  any  ^her 
place.  Strong  shallops  and  slip-keels  are  necessa* 
ry  to  the  transport  of  the  heavy  cannon,  ordnance 
stores,  amrr^unition,  clothing,  &c.  &c. 

'<I  am  writing  to  Bom  ford  for  many  thinga 
which  I  was  assured  I  should  find  here;  and  i  pray 
you  to  put  him  on  the  alert,  or  I  may  be  caught  in 
the  snow.  I  dictate  this  under  much  dej^ression 
of  head  and  stomach;  and  am, 

With  great  respect  and  esteem,       .^ 

Your  most  obedient  servant,  ^ 

JA.  WILKINSON. 


V      1 


-"^^VA^y 


h'-i 


■•i  f?t-s 


•■'■•A'..!:    ■-« 


i..'Mt»'-li-  ''..lit  ■■  .  ^rt 

)f     tt;,.>(iir 

Off  stand- 
[juadroiis 
idequ^nce 
» happen- 
B  o'olocky 
enis  hiiye 
ftving  cic- 
athcr  the 
miformfy 
suit. 

',propcrly 
operattbn 
hhe  pro* 
eers  from 
md  active 

M*Clure, 
ature  my 
difficulties 
but  we 
ve  not  re- 
%x\y  ^her 
:  neeespa* 

ordnance 

ly  things 

Ind  1  pra^ 

caught  in 

lejiression 


.,■      ■^•:^ 

rant, 

Ion. 


^:e-^ 


'(k^'ih 


{I. 


CM] 


11^* 


£xtraf:t  of  a  letter  from  general  Wilkinson  to  the  secretary 
of  war,  dated  fort  George,  Sept.  16,  1813*  ♦^ ' 

*^  I  have  escaped  from  my  palet,  and  with  a 
giddy  head  and  trembling  hana  will  endeavor  to 
sCrawl  you  a  few  lines,  the  first  1  have  written 
sinice  my  arrival  here, 

''With  respect  to  the  advance  squadrons,  we 
are  still  without  one  word  of  authentic  informal 
tion,  but  we  ar :  entertained  by  daily  rumors  as 
Wild  and  extravagant  as  they  are  inconsistent  and 
contradictory.  I  hope  we  may  soon  have  an  end 
of  this  state  of  uncertainty,  which  damps  our  ej?r' 
ertions,  and retardsour measures.  *? 

**  The  removal  bf  the  main  body  of  the  troops 
from  this  position  is  an  operation  of  great,  delicacy 
and  interest;  and  it  was  therefore  your  presence 
here  would  have  been  more  important  than  else*, 
where.   •  ■  ■  ;'^ 

''  I  am  not  authorised  to  abandon  this  uselesi 
occupancy,  and , therefore  it  must  be  maintained 
against  the  united  British  force  in  its  vicinity;  to 
secure  the  end,  and  nothing  must  be  hazarded, 
will  r^uire  a  serious  drain  from  our  best  troopsi^-v 
which  enfeebles  our  too  feeble  force  for  the  main 
attack.  The  head  of  the  militia  under  M^Clure 
has  not  yet  shown  itself:  when  it  does  (if  in  any 
reasonable  time),  and  we  have  conferred,  I  shall  be 
better  enabled  to  developethe  intricate  path  before 
me.  But  in  the  mean  time»  alas!  sir,  the  season 
will,  I  fear,  be  lost.  %! 

''  The  Indians  enter  into  our  views  with  great 
zeal,  and  I  look  for  a  corps  of  at  least  five  hun*.j 
dred  men  in  eight  days;  whether  to  relieve  De 
Rottenberg  of  five  or  six  hundred  of  his  eflfective 
men,  before  I  turn  my  back  on  him,  will  be  de- 
termined by  considerations  of  policy  in  relation  r^ 
to  our  red  allies  and  the  militia,  and  the  fdi^  oi 


—  /    -AJ 


y.^\. 


.A--S'.^;j^ftj.t^^i. 


'"^w- 


f20 


[54] 


^.f 


Qur  squadrons.    The  enenfiy  profess  to  day  a  total 
iffnorance  of  the  occurrence  of  an  action  betvveen 
l)  the  squadrons. 

**  In  the  course  of  sixteen  dayii  the  ehemy  have 
lost  sixty  five  nden  by  desertion,  we  barely  six. 
We  count  4,600  on  paper,  and  could  shovir  kbout 
3,400  combatants.    The  enemy,  from  the  best  in- 
formation we  hi^ve,   have  about  3,000  men  on 
.paper,  of  whom  1,400  are  sick.    Shall  I  make  a 
Isweep  of  them  or  not,  at  the  hazard  of  our  main 
object?  Not  unless  that  main  object  is  jeopardised 
^  by  the  fate  of  our  squadrons— it  would  require  an 
;Dperation  of  three  weeks;  but  my  views  are  for- 
;  ward,  and  I  shall  not  abandon  the  prospect  whije 
a  ray  of  hope  remains. 

**  I  have  received  your  letters  to  the  6th  from 

ySackett^  Harbor,  and  thank  you  for  them.    For 

your  comfoit,  the  men  here  are  gaining  health, 

\  and,  with  their  officers,  breathe  an  ardent  spirit 

^^fbr  combat."  ^_^^'^ 


.4 


'-I 


-,^ 


^Extract  of  a  letter  from  major  general  Wilkinson  to  the  ac- 
^]'.,       cretary  of  war,  dated  fort  George,  Sept.  18,  1^13. 

DEAR  GBINERAU  ^ 

Accident  detained  the  express  last  evening,  and 
gives  me  an  opportunity  to  drop  you  another  line. 
Not  a  word  more  of  Ghauncey;  what  has  be- 
come of  him?  Ipray  you  to  decide,  whether  I  am 
to  move,  with  or  without  any  further  knowledge  of 
the  squadron. 

From  the  enclosed  No.  2,  it  would  appear  that 
the  enemy  expect  tranquil  winter  quarters  in  this 
neighborhood,  for  the  number  of  barracks  propos- 
ed to  be  built  will  not  receive  more  than  1,400  or 
1,600  men,  including  guards,  ordinary  and  extra- 


"it. 


^^y 


\y  a  total 
I  between 

jrtiy  hpve 
urely  SIX. 
oW  kbout 
le  best  in- 
men  on 
I  make  a 
our  main 
opardised 
•eqiiire  an 
s  arc  for- 
ject  while  ' 

I  6tb  from 
icm.  For 
ng  health, 
dent  spirit 


mto  the  se- 
),  1913. 

■'*■        ith  '  .  '?■  ■■  - 

sning,  and 
other  line, 
at  has  be- 
•ther  I  am 
iwledge  of 

ppear  that 
ers  in  this 
cs  propos- 
nl^or 
emd  es^ra- 


[54] 


:«    «.-a  ui'.-< 


v^ 


V 


-^  vordinary,  stow  ihe:n  as  you  can;  but  shall 

the  enemy  with jii  fo>  *  miles  of  this  place,  making 
>^Jft  wide  investiture  of  it  from  Queenstown  to  Four 
Mile  creek;  or  shall  I  break  him  up?  with  our  pros- 
pects the  decision  is  embarrassing;  change  the/n 
to  the  abandonment  of  the  chief  design,  and  our 
oourseis  direct,  viz.:  to  take  possession  at  Burling- 
'  ton  bay,  and  cut  up  or  capture  the  whole  division 
in  this  quarter,  which  may  be  estimated  at  3,000 
regular  troops.  I  pray  you  to  deliberate  on  these 
pomts  and  give  me  your  advice  without  delay. 

,  I  have  despatched  an  express  to  for 

general  M'Clure,  of  whom  I  have  heard  nothing 
since  my  last;  but  to  supply  the  defect  of  his  si- 
lence, the  enclosed  copy  of  a  communication  from 
a  committee  of  which  P.  B.  Porter  is  chief,  will 
fully  suffice.     I  have  responded  in  the  most  cour- 
teous terms,  making  reference  to  you  for  your  de- 
terijdination  on  the  momentous  occasion,  as  you 
will  perceive  from  my  answer.     Now  let  me  in- 
.  ,.  treat  you  to  weigh  these  propositions,  to  take  into 
^  consideration  the  possible  failure  of  the  militia  and 
the  substitution  in  such  case  of  these  volunteers;  for 
in  the  present  crisis,  we  should,  if  possible,  ren- 
der ^  assurance  doubly  sure.**    The  letter  of  David 
^^'  Rodman  (a  stranger)  is  also  transmitted  for  Consi- 
i^fderation:  let  me  have  your  answer,  and  tell  me 
'how  to  act  as  speedily  as  possible,  I  beseech.  The 
boats  from  Oswego  have  ndt  yet  arrived. 
1  £tm  feeble  to  childhood,  but  shalljgok  at  the 


■# 


troops  in  battalion  on  Tuesday. 


i,>-*''~f 


Truly  yours, 

J  A.  WILKIN  sew,  ? 

*yh^  hpivpilft^iie  Johi^  Armstrong,  Secretary  of  1lriE^ri^.!^'|<. a§ 


'^W^ 


i-^tr-- 


'W 


*^^^'  !;%f^*.';  ^>%:f-v 


I.  ■  '.>• 


tf■■^, 


I: 


•22 


[54] 
Fort  George,  September  18)  1813. 


^-'H^ 


SIR, 

I  I  am  ordered  by  general  Wilkinson  to  fo^Wi^rd^;; 
the  enclosed  papers.  One,  a  letter  from  a  com^itv  ^ 
tee  of  three,  of  wbich  P.  B.  Porter  is  the  firet;  and 
the  other  a  letter  from  Daniel  Rodman,  the  organ 
of  an  association  of  residents  in  and  near  Canan- 
daigua* 

^^  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  ^ 

. . '  Your  most  obedient  servant, 

■-  H.  LEE,  jr. 

major  of  infantry  and  aid  de  camp  t^   [^ 
^^  .  major  general  Wilkinson.  '■ 

■■■        ■   .       '  ,     'fk-^ 


The  honorable  J.  Armstrong;, 
secretary  of  war. 


vi  Black  Rock,  September  17,  18 1 3. 

SIR, 

In  consequence  of  encouragements  from  gene- 
ral Boyd,  that  a  general  and  decisive  movement' 
was  about  to  be  made  by  the  army,  and  ^bat  an 
additional  force  was  desirable,  we  repaired  to  fort 
George  about  five  weeks  affo  with  500  men,  (con- 
sisting of  volunteers,  militia,  and  Indians,  Most 
of  us  remained  there  for  twelve  or  fourteen  days, 
but  our  hopes  not  being  realized,  the  men  con-^ 
tinually  dispersed  and  went  home,  not  however 
without  expectations,  again  encouraged  by  gene* 
rals  Boyd  and  Williams,  that  we  should  be  shortly 
called  on  again  to  aid  in  operations,  which  the 
people  in  this  part  of  the  country,  so  long  harrassed 
by  the  calamities  of  war,  feel  so  strong  an  inte^ 
rest  in  forwarding^     Dader  similar  expectations, 


a. 


m 


1^:.:. 


110' 


v4^ 


-  .i 


i^::.y,: 


I  r 
» ■ 

and 
rgan 


»I3. 


It  an  ^H 

ist  ^ 
lays, 

sver^. 
icnc*  ■  V. 
irtly  ^^ 
the  # 
«ed 


,08,  Jl; 


|Mv;    -vjf,, 


^rr^f^. 


[54] 


iM^  *. 


28* 


■# 


tttany  ofour  friends  in  the  interior  have  intimated 
io  us  their  readiness  to  join  with  respectable  rein- 
forcements on  the  shortest  notice:  and  we  are  ill- 
formed  that  one  company,  about  70  strong,  is 
actually  on  its  march,  and  will  arrive  here  to  day 
or  to-morrow. 

We  are  at  this  moment  much  at  a  loss  how  to 
act,  and  our  djfliculty  is  increased  by  tht*  various 
rumors  and  conjectures  circulated  by  the  diffe- 
rent officers  daily  arriving  from  head  quarters, 
some  of  whom  I'cpresent  that  no  offiensive  ope- 
rations are  to  be  undertaken  on  this  frontier,  but 
that  the  regular  army  is  immediately  to  be  march- 
ed, either  to  the  east  to.  attack  Kingston,  or  to  the 
west  to  join  general  Harrison.  Others  state  that 
an  attack  is  to  be  made  on  the  British  forces  in 
the  Vicinity  of  this  place. 

Under  these  circumstances,  we  are  induced  to 
inquire  of  you  whether  such  a  force  as  we  have  it 
in  our  power  to  raise  is  desired  by  you  to  efi'ectu- 
ate  your  plans,  and  if  so,  in  what  numbers,  and 
at  what  time?  If  your  object  be  to  sally  out 
vipon  the  enemy  at  fort  George,  we  could  bring 
you  a  respectable  force.  But,  on  the  contrary,  jf 
you  meditate  an  attack  at  some  other  point,  and 
the  withdrawal  of  the  regular  troops  from  fort 
Gecrg^,  and  placing  this  frontier  on  the  defensive 
only,  by  means  of  militia,  we  would  observe  that 
our  prepared  force  is  of  such  a  character  as  could 
not  be  engaged  in  this  service.       '    ,-?l 

Upon  the  supposition  that  you  intend  to  with- 
draw the  regular  troops  from  this  frontier,  we  beg 
leave  to  submit  a  proposition  for  your  considera- 
tion* 

We  believe  we  are  not  incorrect  in  saying  that 
it  would  require  nearly  quite  as  great  a  force  to 
defend  this  line  of  frontier  against  a  given  force 


•''  > 


'24 


11 


i.^' 


[54] 


V 


■■^, -:     .-J, 


of  the  eilemy,  as  it  would  to  attack  and  subdtie 
that  enemy.  Sir  George  Prevost  ,has  ordered 
the  militia  o!  the  upper  province  to  be  calle^  0ut 
en  masse.  They  are  to  assemble  on  Saturday 
next.  And  if,  after  your  departure,  the  enemy 
opposite  here  should  take  it  in  his  head  to  retain 
all  his  regular  force,  and  pla^  off  his  skill  against 
the  inexperience  of  our  militia,  we  might  have  oc  • 
casion  to  fear  a  repetition  of  former  scenes  in  the^ 
present  war. 

Our  proposition  (in  case  of  your  leaving  this 
place)  is,  that  we  be  permitted  to  raise  between 
this  and  the  first  of  October  a  volunteer  force  of 
from  1,000  to  1,200  men,  exclusive  of  Indians. 
That  we  add  to  it  as  many  of  the  militia  stationed 
on  the  lines  as  may  be  willing  to  join  us.  That 
we  be  furnished  with  a  small  train  (say  4  pieces) 
of  field  artillery,  with  experienced  officers  and 
men  to  fight  them;  and  that  with  this  force  we  be 
authorised  to  invade  the  enemy's  country. 

Shduld  you  think  proper  to  confer  such  nn  au. 
thority  on  us,  and  direct  that  the  volunteers  shall 
be  furnished  with  arms,  ammunition,  provisions, 
&c.  and  receive  pay  while  in  actual  service,  we 
pledge  our  lives  that  before  the  close  of  the  season 
we  will  occupy  the  whole  of  the  valuable  and  po- 
poulous  peninsula  oppoisttc  this  river,  and  either 
capture,  destroy,  or  disperse  all  the  enemy's  force 
in  this  quat  ter. 

>*  You  may  perhaps  make  it  convenient  to  send 
an  answer  by  the  bearer,  captain  Hall. 
^^  We  are,  sir,  most  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servants, 

PETER  B.  PORTER, 
^    i  CYRENlUa  CHAPIN, 

JOSEPH  M.  CLUER. 

Mai  or  ceneral  Wilkinson. 


even 


'*>' 


♦^> 


subdue 
»rdef«d 
e4  ptit 
ituVday 
enemy 
)  retain 
agaiiiBt 
lave  oc ' 
s  in  the 

ing  thh 
jctwccn 
force  of 
Indians. 
Rationed 
.  That 
I.  pieces) 
;er6  and 
:e  we  be 

h  an  au- 
«rs  shall 
ovislons, 
vice,  we 
e  season 
5  and  po- 
id  either 
y's  force 

;  to  send 


ER, 

VPIN, 

JEH. 


tt- 


,  Canandaigua)  Sept.  U,  1S13. 

A  large  number  of  patriotic  citizens  of  this  and 
the  adjacent  towns,  anxious  to  do  their  duty  in 
a  orisis  so  interesting  to  the  nation  in  general, 
and  to  this  part  of  the  country  in  particular,  have 
associated  themselves  to  volunteer  their  services 
to  the  United  States  for  the  reaidu$  of  the  cam- 
paign at  least. 

10  order  to  effectuate  their  intentions  however, 
it  w^l  be  necessary  that  their  movements  should 
receive  your  approbation  and  sanction,  and  that 
thf.y  should  be  assured  of,  ihat  the  corps,  whether 
a  qompany,  battalion,  or  (as  is  possible)  a  regi- 
ment, should  be  received,  organized,  and  counte- 
nanced by  your  order  and  authority.  The  late- 
nels  of  the  season  and  the  anxiety  of  the  members 
induce  us  to  request  an  early  and  authoritative 
reply,  that  the  association  may  be  equipped  ac- 
cording to  law,  and  be  useful  to  their  country  thi$i 
season.  It  may  ^t  be  hardly  decorous  for  us  to 
say  it,  but  we  must  observe  that  the  subscribers 
will  prove  to  be  obedient  and  brave  soldiers. 

In  their  behalf, 

I  am,  respectfully. 

Your  obedient  servant, 


DANL  RODMAN 


Major  general  Wilkin&on, 

or  officer  commanding  fort  George. 


if.; 


Fort  George,  Sept.  18,  1813.  ^?  , 

GENTLEMEN,  |' 

Your  letter  of  yesterday  which  reached  me  last 
evening,  gives  you  a  claim  to  my  acknowledg- 

♦4,      .  .         . 


Iti4i;--ir4' 


'^. 


im 


:/ 


.*•;■' 


ments,  atid  ic^those  o^  your  cpuntiy.^  But  as  I 
am  altogether  unauthorised  by  la#  of  in^prli^ioti 
:  to  sanction  your  plan  for  the  levy,  of  k,  bdd^  of 
volunteists,  and  as  your  anticipations,  projpQsi||ion8, 
and  sugsestions  embrace  a  rang6  and  a  chirabteir 
upofi  Wnveh  1  have  neither  right  nor  aiAhonfy  to 
di^iberatei,  I  have  considered  it  my  duty  tb  trans- 
ili^t  a  co|^  of  your  letter  to  the  secretary  pC  w^r, 
m\f  9.t  Saekett'^  Harbor,  by  expres9>  u^r  hi^  (k^- 
liberftUon  aad  decision.  v'tn 

I  hope  he  may  find  it  convenient  iind  proper  to 
meeit  your  views,  and  have  only  to  add,  that  you 
^haU  be  advised  of  his  answer  without  a  ixioitteiH^^ 
delay^  after  it  may  reach  my  hands. 

With highconsideration  ahd respect, 
^  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  gentlem^ny 

Your  most  obedient  servant,  ^ 

*  JA.  WILKINSON? 

•%'      ■  .<'  ■,    V  .  -■'.■■■  -\    ^.    :■■  ..        .         ■     ,  - 

,|Po  Peter  B.  Porter,  major  Cyrenius  ChapUi).         ;  ^j-  .»; 
and  Joseph  M'CIure.  'f 


\ 


vet 


Sackelt's  Harbor,  September  18,  181d« 

GENEI^kL, 

:^  Our  information  from  the  other  side  of  the  Ifke 
amounts  to  this:  Prevost  goes  to  Montreal.  The 
whole  regular  force  in  Kingston  oonsists  of  ten 
companies  of  De  Waterville's  regiment^  that  at 
Prescot  of  two  companies  of  the  same  corps,  and 
abopt  forty  artillerists. 

ti  /Pe  Waterville's  regiment  was  made  up  in  Spain, 
is  composed  of  Poles,  Germans,  Spaniards,  and 
Portuguese,  and  completely  disa^ected.  What  a 
^precious  moment  my  friend  is  this. 

The  commodore  was  brought  back  to  us  yester- 


:ji. 


■:7  -r  '. 


f»  .*"■ 


But  as  I 
>dsi|ion8, 


ihiiraclet 
i\(m^^  to 
tdfrons- 
r  ol  war, 
>r  his<k'' 

prdpev  to 
that  you 
noYtteHt'jt 

ect,    ' 

vant,  ^ 


18,  1813. 

the  lake 
;al.  the 

kts  of  ten 
that  at 

lorps,  and 

I  >. 

|in  Spatn, 
trds,  and 
What  a 

IS  yester- 


m 


m* 


day  by  adverse  winds.  He  goes- this  morning*—^ 
let  not  the  great  objects  of  the  compaign  be  ha- 
zarded by  running  after  Yeo:  these  accomplished, 
his  race  if  run.  Kingston,  or  the  point  below  isei;^- 
ed,  all  above  perishes,  because  the  tree  is  then 
girdled. 

In  speaking  of  your  artillery  you  do  not  include 
the<  guns  taken  at  fort  George,  and  which  will  be 
necessaiy  for  its  defence.  Asmall  garrison  will  be 
sufficient  against  assault:  siege  we  need  not  dread. 
It  is  already  too  late  to  live  in  trenches.  Pc^rter 
(of  the  lirtillery)  would  do  well  to  command  the 
placet  Tell  him  from  me  he  is  a  brigadier  by  brer 
vet.  .■      .  -^ 

The  means  of  transportation  arc  now  ^vith  you, 
hasten  your  march,  and  may  God  bless  you  in  all 
your  enterprises.  '^"^ 

Yours  truly  and  always, 


'  .f 


General  Wilkinson. 


JOHN  ARMSTRONG. 


^' 


# 


>. 


the 


BxtrilLCts  of  a  letter  from  major  general  Wilkinson  to 
:\    secretary  of  war,  dated  September  20th,  1813. 

I  am  wel)  ^ain,  and  th;it*s  a  good  thing,  for  I 
b^vebeen  during  my  sicl^ness  somewhat  of  a  smdl- 

fmgw. 

Now  indeed  would  be  a  fine  time  to  slip  into 
the  St.  Lawrence  if  Chauncey  could  keep  sir  James 
blockaded  above  Kingston  and  command  the 
river  below  at  the  same  time,  and  our  prepara- 
tions were  completely  matured,  but  it  is  an  hercur 
}ean  task  to  extract  order  from  chaos.  No  time 
hi^s  or  shall  be  lost  on  my  part;  but  we  cannot, 
when  prepared  at  all  points,  control  the  winds.— r* 
{t  w9§|{^t  nig;ht  only  the  transports  from  Oswego 


,  -y- 


^j-'^aa 


M-. 


■Hi' 


■'-■  ■ 


h- 


It- 


..^l-- 


*•;■ 


•'r' 


irived;  and  tf  I  «n;i  ip^ot  harclly  opposed  by  wea* 
ther»  I  hope  I  shiall  have  1000  men  afloat  |>y  the 
$6tb,  and  complete  my  embarkation  on  the  SOth, 
after  which  until  we  reach  Grenadier  Island,  I 
must  look  to  our  squadron  and^ke  h^aisens  fot* 

^fisty.  ■ .'  ,  ,    V:y^--^^>  y 

Chaunceyr  tells  me  he  is  liable  to  be  blown  off 
from  hb  station,  arid  in  such  caseSir  Jamef^  may 
,s}ip,out  by  jiimrbut  promises  to  follow^him.  ^Itis 
jbaSrial,  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  following  and 
ctitting  our  rear,  that  scfme  competent  force  should 
take  post  on  the  St.  Lawrence  belpw  Kingston; 
and  I  pray  of  you  to  niake  this  arrangement  with 
Chauncey.  Before  Heft  Sackett's  liarbor,  I  or- 
d^ed  a  dozen  slip  keeled  boats,  to  carry  50  men 
each,  and  to  row  30  oars,  to  be  armed  with  alight 
'cannon,  in  their  bow.  - 

^;  This  armament  is  to  sweep  the  St.  Lawrence  of 
the  enemy's  gun  boats,  and  to  takC/post  in  ad^ 
vance  wh6n  and  wher'ever  it  may*  be  advisable. 
I  beg  you,  if  necessary  on  your  part,  to  giVff  effect 
to  this  ordeir. 

We  have  just  received  advice  confirmatory  of  a 
naval  combat  on  lake  Erie,  in  which  it  is  said 
Perry  has  taken  the  whole  British  squadron  On  the 
ilOth  instant,  and  brought  the  vessels  into  **  Put- 
ney  harbor  at  the  islands"— his  own  v^essel,  the 
Lawrence,  barely  capable  of  being  floated.  The 
action  lasted  six  hours.  This  will  cancel  youi^ 
news  froni  our  commodore.  '' 

The  enclosed  letter  from  general  M'Clure 
breathes  a  good  spirit,  but  he  will  not  be  up  for 
several  days  In  the  mean  time  I  shall  prepare  his 
wders,  to  be  ready  to  give  him  the  command. 
;  A  body  of  horse,  a  small  one  at  that  point 
^ivherethe  fate  of  the  island  is  to  be  decided  by 
combat  (for  believe  not  that  we  shall  get  possession 
of  MontrcAl  without  a  battle)  will  be  invaluable. 


:'^ 


w  >] 


Island,  1 
av^ns  foir 

blown  off 
tines  m^y 
ini.^ftis 
fwingand 
ce  snould 
Kingston; 
nentwith 
bor,  I  or- 
y  50  men 
M  alight 

wrtnce  of 
>st  in  ad- 
adyi^ble. 
jiVjB  effect 


itory  of  a 
is  .said 
on  6i;irthe 
to  "  Put- 
essel,  the 
d.  The 
eel  youi' 

M'CIure 

>e  up  for 

eparehis 

;nd. 

at  point 

cided  by 

)ssession 

valuable. 


'.y- 


an 


re 


I  hiMsbeen^ofdere|lfaenbe/oi^e  i 
<».^*Ta),  tp  r^riikiC  his  cavsdry  and  ;|^rv|/<.i^  »iivti> 
Ibractiogi^  and  I  ^^11  order  bim  by  e^preiss  to*, 
morrow  to, incline  by  indirect  dilatory  iriarche;?  io- 
^ards*l|#t)(iiUQn)  there  to  look  for  further  orders, 
somewhere  about  Antwerp  or  that  quarter.  From 
peni^ark  or  Champion  lie  is  to  advise  the  com-, 
mandmg  officer  at  Sackett's  Harbor  of  his  moil^^ 

De  Rottenberg  is  under  the  full  belief  that  I 
mean  to^attack  him,  and  I  siiMt  keep  up  the  delu* 
sionJis  long  as  possible.,  ;, 

.  The  snail's  pace  of  the  reinforcemeiits  approach* 
ihgtWs  division,  and  pardon  me,  their  direction 
and  ;rou|:e  occasion  me  surprise.  Of  what  avail 
. '  !;  be  the  detachments  under  colonels  Randolph 
i .  i  Goles,*  which  are,  1  learn  from  Washington, 
^Stt their  marph  to  this  place,  where  thej  ciannot, 
or  will  not  arrive  before  the  ISth  proximo.  If 
these  detachments  had  been  ordered  on  by  all  the 
avaiFable  water  communications  from  Annapiblis 
to  Albany,  they  could  have  reached  Sackett's  Har-" 
bor  in  season,  and  a  column  of  801)  men  would  have 
been  found  ah  important  desideratum  inpur  inii pend- 
ing operations.  Where  also  are  the  1000  men 
f»eported  to  me  by  colonel  Duanc  as  being  ready  for 
marcb  be^'orc  I  reached  Philadelphia?  I  must  hope 
near  Sackett's  Harbor.  I  put  t hese  questioni  to 
you  that  1  may  apprise  you  of  facts,  that  you,  with 
whom  it  rests,  may  apply  the  remedy,  for  I  find 
we  possess  little  military  subordination  or  respect, 
and  that  a  chief  of  an  army  is  obeyed  more  trom 
courtesy  than  principle  or  professional  obligations. 

I  sendthis  by  the  privateer  Fox  to  commodore 
Chauncey,  with  a  request  that  he  accelerate  its  pro- 
gress to  you.     This  place  neither  stops  a  gap,  e^ 


'■'0^  ,*  These  corps  arrived  in  time. 


•■*•, 


♦3^ 


v-* 


.  m^ 


;-\^^;^ 


tends  our  ossess'toHs,  por  covei%  op  ]protoct9  a 
cpur^tpy;  %th  good  for  nought^  h\xt  \(>  cominiancl 
the  ground  it  occupies,  and  therefore  1  ih^tt  di^ 
matitle  and  abandon  it 


EJ^ctract  of  a  letter  from  the  secretaiy  of  ytf^r  tp  major 
general  Wilkinson)  dated  Sackett's  Harbor,  Septembier 

;,^^^,i8i3.  • ..  >   .  ^'  .V,' ".. 

I>EAk  GENERAL,  / 

Your  letters  of  the  16th,  17th,  and  18th  instant 
have  been  this  moment  received;  I  hasten  to  an- 
swer them,  The  main  object  must  be  prosecuted; 
Chauncey  is  not  broken  down;  he  can  apd  vill 
command  the  lake,  and  while  he  does  so,  oiir  po- 
sition at  fort  George  may  be  maintained.  If  the 
eneipy's  sick  list  amounts  to  one  thousand  four 
hundred  out  of  three  thousand,  the  enemy  Can  uiit 
dertake  nothing  with  effect.  In  this  view  of  the 
subject,  close  wUh  P.  B.  Porter's  proposition,  made 
in  the  following  words,  viz.:  "  Our  proposition  (m 
case  of  your  leaving  this  place)  is,  that-we  be  per- 
muted to  raise,  between  this  and  the  1st  of  Octo- 
ber, a  volunteer  force  of  from  one  thousand  to  o|]ie 
thousand  two  hundred  men,  exclusive  of  Indians; 
that  we  add  to  it  as  many  of  the  fnilitia  stationed 
on  the  lines  as  may  be  willing  to  join  us;  that  we  be 
furnished  with  a  small  train  (say  four  pieces  -tf 
field  artillery  with  expenenced  officers  and  meq 
to  fight  them)  and  that  with  this  force  ^e  be  aur 
jthohsed  to  invade  the  enemy's  country. 

Rodman's  corps  may  join  Porter.  Any  volun- 
teers you  may  have  with  the  army,  whose  times 
are  near  expiring,  and  who  are  desirous  ojf  continu* 
ing  in  service,  may  do  so  also.  We  will  cover  the 
whole  by  a  requisition  upon  governor  Tompkin$ 
for  additional  militia, 


V  I 


.\- 


:'.<k~.  '•>n.j'jilA.vXK^'^^A'^.-flj'.^l<^i9^.r^'-' 


::a:-^ 


iinanci 


\H- 


I  major, 


►  V»i 


;       ft      ■     Y-    '^-rf..*    V 


instant 
to  anr 
jcuted; 

i  ym^ 

Itihf 
d  foiii^ 
sanuiit' 

ofth^,' 

on  i}m 
jerperrv 

Octa- 

idians; 
tipne<|: 
we  be 

es  -f.  * 
mei^ 

'olun- 
timeei 
itinuf« 
;r  the 
pkinft; , 


;^  ■*, 


The  cinemy'^  flcM  have  left?  the  Chesapeake^  I 
believe  for  mlifax,  whence  the  land  troops  are  to 
be  sent  into  Canada:  another  motive  for  Cjuick 
movements. 

My  last  letters  by  Chauncey  of  the  ISih  or  19th 
gave  you  all  we  yet  know.  Prevost  has  left  Kings- 
ton, it  is  said,  for  Quebec;  more  probably  for  Mon- 
tr^. 

Yours  faithfully  and  ever, 

JOHN  ARMSTRONG. 


NUgara,  September  27,  1813, 6  o'clock,  A.  M. 

BEAR  SIR, 

I  received  at  eight  o'clock  last  evening,  your  in-' 
tei^sting  letter  of  the  22d,  and  shall  employ  itsau-' 
thorisatidns  to  the  best  possible  effect. 

Fifteen  hundred  men  were  embarked  with  pniers 
l^^il  the  day  before  yesterday,  but  a  strong  east- 
erly wind  has  made  it  impossible  to  move. 

The  whole  force,  say  three  thousand  combat-, 
ants^  after  deducting  the  garrisons  of  fort  George 
and  Niagara,  were  ready  for  embarkation 'yester- 
day, and  as  the  weather  is  serene  at  this  moment, 
I  itope  the  whole  may  be  able  to  move  at  dusk 
this  day:'!  say  at  dusk  because  1  ani  desirous  to 
keep  my  neighbors  under  a  delusion  as  long  as 
possible;  they  are  perplexed  as  to  my  interttions, 
and  will  not  be  able  to  penetrate  them  before  they 
have  discovered  the  course  of  my  flotilla. 

I  have  authentic  information  from  Yorl;  the 
evening  of  the  24th  inst.  The  brigade  of  militia  in 
thi^  vicmity  were  required  to  assemble  the  35th,  and 
six^  hundred  men  of  the  41st  and  49th  regiments, 
second  battalion  were  daily  expected  there  on 


'«.■ 


t*.' 


^^ 


u^ 


^ 


Vlif  •j-,T« 


<'-.■ 


and  sttili  better  three  spacious  block  houses  affc  or- 
dered by  sir  George  to  be  erected  at  Ybii!k. 

But  sir,  here  is  one  drawback;  ■^he'tonlalizing 
si  r' James  Yeo  was  inshore  with  his ^et  on  the 
e\^ning  of  the  24th,  (Friday)  about  ttventy^ight 
ii)iiles  cast  of  York.  Where  he  is  now,  we  know 
not)' for  he  has  not  since  been  heard  o^  and  Chaun^ 
cey  is  just  sending  out  the  Lady  of  th&  Lake  and 
the  Neptune  to  reconnoitre  York  and  tiae  jcoast  in 
that  quarter.  What  may  be  the  views  of' the 
knight?  to  gasconade,  to  retard  my  movement,  ot 
to  enable  De  Rpttenberg  to  follow  me?  I*am  un- 
able to  divine,  but  will  not  be  longer  delayed,  and, 
therefore,  shall  be  twenty  miles  to  the  eastward  be- 
fore to-morrow  morning,  should  Ili6  weather  pei^- 
mit.  If  Isir  James  can  be  discorit^ed,  Chaunc)% 
will  seek  him,  otherwise  he  will  sail  with  nielto 
xjover  my  left  (lank.  .   v    : 

i^s  wc  have  not  a  moment  to  loose,  I  dhall'ipro* 
deed  directly  to  Grenadier*  Island,  writing  ypti; 
and  sending  orders  to  the  commanding  oiTicer  by  a 
despatch  boat>  en  passant.  ^ 

After  all  we   are   so   straitened  for  transport,  ' 
that  we  shall  not  find  room  for  more  than  fifteen 
days' provisions;  indeed,  we   have  little  more  to 
spare  from  this  position,  and  therefore,  our  sole  de** 
pendencemust  be  on  the  magazines  at  Sackett'i^- 
Harbor,  of  which  the  contractor  should  bepersoHr^' 
ally  advised.    Heaven  protect  you. 

Truly  yours, 

J  A.  WILKINSON. 

Honorable  John  Armstrong,  secretary  of  war. 

*  I  had  determined  on  this  point  of  rendeivous  before  I  heard  bom  ff  >  '■ 
neral  Brownt     ^,..- ._;  ..:',  -.-''.'■■■  ■  "  '  v  "•  ■■"  < 


s,  ,1 


■   '.V.  ■'...t.,\.^,;.-Sf  ■ 


..ij.,  «^...:~v>v,.i 


.2,%. 


Dl 

the 


good^ 

are  or- 

alizing 
on  thc^ 
ir^ight 
t  know 

ke  and 
oast  in 
or  the 
ent,  <#^ 
im  un- 
d,  an)(i^ 

er  pei;- 
lunciby 


isportf^^ 
fifteen 
ibretp  * 
Je  de- 
ikett's , 
;r6on' 


WJ^. 


im 


3^. 


I 


kjs; 


T^ort  George,  October  2, 1813. 
DEAR  SIR, 

Since  my  last  of  the  17th  inst.  I  have  had  ditAf: 
culttes,  perplexities,  and  anxie'ti&s  sufficient  to  dit^^' 
compose  a  saint.  '^ 

Commodore  Chauncey  hrving  ascertained  that 
the  British  squadron  was  on  the  opposite  coast 
agreeably  to  the  information  I  had  given  him,  left 
port  on  the  evening  of  the  27th  to  look  for  it;  on 
the  morning  of  the  28th  we  discovered  our  squa^^ 
dron  off  this  place  about  mid  channel,  and  standing 
for  the  York  shore;  about  13  o'clock,  though  very 
distant,  we  discovered  it  was  warmly  engaged,  the 
enemy  to. leewr^rd  and  scarcely  discernable;  we 
could)  with  our  glasses,  distinguish  the  Pike  firing 
both  her  batteries,  and  frequently  enveloped  in 
smoke.  The  enemy  were  forced  towards  the  head 
of  the  lake;  and  about  3  o'clock  we  lost  sight  of  out  ^ 
sternmost  vessel,  the  action  still  continuing.  Froir#' 
that  period  until  yesterday  morning  I  was  kept  ii 
suspenre  as  to  the  issue  of  the  action,  the  wi'jd 
blowing  a  gale  from  the  south  east,  and  producing 
such  a  swell  as  made  it  impossible  for  our  priva- 
teers to  keep  the  lake,  and  of  course  my  flotilla  was 
confined  to  port  with  the  troops,  either  on  board 
or  encamped  on  the  beach.  The  evening  before 
the  last,  our  whole  fleet  (alone)  were  discovered 
beating  down  the  lake:  in  'Hj  course  of  the  night 
they  came  to  off  Four  Mile  creek,  and  yesterday 
morning  the  commodore  prtsented  himself.  Our 
observations  on  the  action  were  in  the  main  cor- 
rect, except  that  the  battle  was  fought  by  the  Pike 
alone  (or  next  to  it)  who  having  carried  away  sir 
James'  mizzen  and  main  top  mj.8ts,  his  squadron 
bore  up  to  protect  him,  and  Chauncey  was  emi 
gagcvl  with  the  whole.  Unlucky  fellow,  be  could 
have  tb  ken  a  schooner  and  a  brig,  but  his  eyes  be- 


■'■A 


-.  \  '■ 


■  ,VW.  ''^'-'r.^'i-'^ 


7 


in^fiX'^cl  on  thd  commodore,  he  would  hot  look  at 

,  smaller  game.     Finally,  sir  James,  as  usual,  ran 

^la^vay;  was  chased  to  the  head  of  the  lake,  came  to 

anchor  close  in  shore;  and  the  gale  and  tremen- 

-dous  sea'  threatening,  in  case  of  a  continued  action, 

to  put  both  squadrons  on  shore,  sir  James  with  the 

British  force  assembled  there,  and  Cnauncey  into 

the  hands  of  the  enemy,  he  claweil  ofT  and  came 

down  to  confer  with  me^  he  has  my  opinions  in 

writino:,  and  T  expect  his  answer  this  morning. 

Early  yesterday,  before  I  had  heard-  from  the 
commodore,  the  wind,  for  the  first,  becoming  fa- 
vorable, I  despatched  all  "^y  batteaux,  and  as  soon 
as  I  had  ascertained  sir  James  Yeo's  situation,  our 
sailboats  followed;  but,  alas,  before  1  oVlock  the 
wind  again  came  round  to  the  south  eadt,  and  seve- 
ral of  our  schooners  returned,  though  a  majority  of 
them,  and  the  whole  of  the  batteaux  proceeded, 
and  I  hope  reached  Eighteen  Mile  creek. 

I  have  been  detained  by  the  arrival  of  about  350 
Indians,  to  whom  I  was  oblige;!  to  give  an  ^au- 
dience and  a  talk,  and  1  lodged  in  this  place  to  see 
whether  the  enemy  might  look  at  it,  and  what 
would  be  the  conduct  of  the  garrison  of  690  mili- 
tia and  800  regular  troops,  under  the  command  of 
colonel  Scott.  We  have  just  had  an  alarm,  and 
being  myself  among  the  first  on  parade,  I  have  wit- 
nessed a  scene  by  which  I  shall  profit  Scott,  before 
I  leave  him,  which  will  be  in  a  couple  of  hours,  as, 
thank  Almighty  God,  the  wind  again  breezes, 
though  it  has  rained  all  night,  and  still  continues  tp 
rain.  Oh,  if  it  may  please  God  to  favor  us  with 
this  breeze  we  shall  soon  be  near  you,  but  it  is  in 
his  power,  by  adverse  winds  to  delay,  and  by  tem- 
pests to  destroy  us.  1  move  with  about  vS,500  men. 
Farewell,  and  God  preserve  you. 

^^'  JA.  WILKINSON.  ^ 


'i^SW 


The  honorable  John  Annstrong. 


,/  ,,.., 


not  look  at 
B  usual,  ran 
,ke,  came  to 
,nd  tremeii' 
nui'd  action, 
nes  with  the 
auncey  into 
r  and  came 
opinions  in 
lorning* 
rd  from  the 
becoming  fa- 
and  as  soon 
ituation,  our 
[o'clock  the 
tst,  and  seve- 
I  majority  of 
[  proceeded, 

:ek. 

of  about  350 

jive  an  ^au- 
place  to  se& 
;,  and  what 
of  690  miti- 
mmand  of 
alarm,  an<^ 
I  have  wit- 
Icott,  before 
hours,  as^ 
,in  breezes, 
Icontihuesto 
,vor  us  with 
but  it  is  in 
tnd  by  tem^ 
3,500  men. 

:iNSON. 


..1  *■ 

5^' 


tsfl 


tr'. 


Extract  from  the  journal  of  tbe  secretary  of  vr 

^  4th  October,  1813.  General  Wilkiiwon  arrivedii, 
at  Sackett'd  Harbor  on  thi<'  day  from  fort  George^. 
He  immediately  visited  the  secretary  of  war,  in 
cbmpany  with  generals  Lewis  and  Brown,  and  in 
the  presence  oi  these  officers  remonstrated  freely 
and  warmly  against  making  an  attack  on  K^ings- 
tpn— urging  the  propriety  of  passing  that  post  and 
of  going  directly  to  Montreal. 

"  The .  secretary  of  war  differed  from  general 
Wilkinson  in  opinion,  but  thought  his  objections 
worthy  of  consideration,  and  proposed  a  meeting 
on  the  day  following  for  that  purpose. 
,u  "The  meeting  took  place  accordingly,  when  ge- 
neral Wilkinson  presented  the  paper  marked  No. 
1.  That  markeo  No.  2,  was  presented  by  the  se- 
cretary, and  the  opinion  with  which  it  closes  was 
adopted  as  that  which  should  regulate  the  move- 
ments of  the  army  " 


I- 


i^.'-i. 


1 ,1. 


•I  JV-. 


a;,  ■'• 


No.  1.* 


:'***- 


■m^'mm^!%;' 


■*etiii 


Reasons  for  attacking  Kingston  aii/ertortoa  de* 
scent  upon  Montreal. 

1st.  We  shall  capture  a  garrison  of  800  or  1000, 
and  demolish  a  strong  hold  of  tiie  enemy. 

2d.  We  shall  destroy  his  naval  depot  and  ma- 
gazines of  every  species.  i 
.  3d.  We  shall  by  this  operation  diminish  his 
force,  destroy  his  resources,  and  place  the  division 
at  the  head  of  the  lake,  under  De  Rottenburg,  in 
great  difficulty  and  distress;  and 

4tb.  We  shall  destroy  every  naval  resource,  arid 
of  consequence  prevent  the  buildingy  equipping,  and 
even  repairing  a  single  vessel. 


\ ' 


''■m 


<? 


•t$ 


W 


*■■'  *  ' 


v^g^s^  this  attack  it  may  be  urged:  ^ 

l«t  That  the  reduction  of  the  place  may  cost 
more  time  than  we  calculate  on. 

2d.  |t  may  encumber  us  with  wounded  and  sick; 
and 

3d.  It  is  possible  the  British  squadron  may  as 
heretofore  elude  commodore  Chauncey,  and  find 
us  before  Kingston,  or  overtake  us  on  the  St.  Law- 
rence. 
•'^    In  the  first  place,  from  the  lateness  of  the  season, 
the  loss  of  a  few  days  may  expose  us  to  the  au- 
tumnal rains,  and  jeopardise  the  chief  object  of  the 
^il^ampaign.     In  the  second  place,  our  own  force 
^Hvill  be  diminished  and  our  movements  retarded; 
^and 

^^'  In  the  third  place,  the  chief  object  of  the  cam* 
paign,  fAe  captui^e  of  Montreal^  will  be  utterly  de- 
';-feated,  and  our  own  army  subjected  to  great  difTi- 
*  eulties,  losses,  and  perils.  Submitted  to  the  bono- 
'"rabie  the  secretary  of  war. 

JA.  WILKINSON. 


:*■ 


';*^., 


■^^- 


■''"V?f  *^f'^.->' 


No.  2. 


■4 


1st.  The  Niagara  division  will  probably  arrive 
ere  in  a  day  or  two. 

2d.  The  weather  is  yet  good,  and  the  lake  uavi* 
gable  by  scows  and  boats. 

3d.  The  enemy's  main  force  is  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  fort  George  and  his  fleet  at  the  head  of 
the  lake. 

4^h.  The  garrison  of  Kingston  does  not  exceed 
800  or  1,000  men. 

i    5th.  If  we  effect  a  landing  at  MTherson's  farm, 
on  the  eastern  side  of  Kingston,  a  point  may  be 


N»». 


0.*  ;\.*j.,'. 


r^.!l^^ifi(u 


v-^ 


■5- >'•''--'?*?  ' 

may  cost 

and  sick; 

I  may  as 
and  find 
St.Law- 

le  season, 
I  the  au- 
!ct  of  the 
\vn  force 
retarded; 

the  cam* 
tterly  de- 
feat diflfi* 
bhe  bono* 

RSON.: 

■  .,#■■ 
>ly  arrive 

ike  navi- 

■*',:' -'*^: 
le  neigh- 

e  head  of 

}t  exceed 

n's  farm, 
may  be 


*'n 


iSi] 


•M* 


seized,  which  will  command  the  town,  the  forts, 
and  the  harbor;  and  within  teven  hours  after  th^ 
landing  is  effected  a  sufficieQUMittery  may  be  erect*^; 
ed  and  in  operation.  w^a  ►'" 

6th.  9  and  12  pounders  will  be  sulBcient  for 
burning  block  houses,  &c.  and  may  be  dragged  by 
the  men. 

'  7th.  The  time  necessary  to  reduce  the  place 
will  not  exceed  a  single  day,  and  of  course  will  not 
materially  interfere,  on  that  account,  with  our  ob- 
ject below. 

8th.  The  toss  we  may  sustain  can  only  be  con- 
jectured. Judging  from  that  at  fort  George,  where 
the  enemy  were  more  numerous^  it  will  be  incon- 
siderable. 

9th  l*he  advantages  of  taking  Kingston  are  two: 
you  sever  the  enemy's  line  of  communication,  and 
you  expel  him  from  his  only  secure  harbor. 

The  premises  assumed  under  the  lst,2d,3d,  4th, 
and  5th  heads  may  change,  and  our  conclusions  with 
them. '  The  only  safe  decision  therefore  is,  that  if 
the  British  fleet  shall  not  escapecommodore  Chaun- 
cey  and  get  into  Kingston  harbor;  if  the  garrison 
of  that  place  be  not  largely  reinforced;  and  if  the 
weather  be  such  as  will  allow  us  to  navigate  the 
lake  securely,  Kingston  shall  be  our  first  object, 
otherwise,  we  shall  go  directly  to  Montreal. 

JOHN  ARMSTRONG. 

dackett's  Harbor,  5th  October,  1813. 


War  Departipaent,  October  »,  1813. 

DEAR  GENERAL,  ^• 

Does  there  exist  between  you  and  the  commo- 
dore a  clear  and  distinct  understanding  on  the  sub- 


♦t  " '  '.^•=i«f-v 


;.AX. 


ti  . 


- » 


*88 


.[44]   .:: 


ject  of  our  plan  of  operations,  and  the  kind  and 
degree  of  assistance  lie  yvHV  be  Hble  t,q  fl^fe  to  itf 
execution?  Can  he  ti^Hif  position  which  shall  have 
the  effect  of  8huttii)|l|p  Yeo,  and  of  covering  our 
descent  upon  Kingston,  and  our  subsequent  move- 
ment down  the  St.  Lawrence?  Is  it  not  probable 
that  a  part  of  the  enemy'!  fleet  will,  immediately 
on  our  appearance  at  Grenadier  Island,  occupy  th6 
passages  of  the  river?  If  we  can  be  covered  in 
going  to  our  first  object,  and  should  attain  that, 
we  may  be  able  to  dispense  with  further  naval  as* 
sistance;  but  should  we  fail  (a  contingency,  which 
beine  possible,  ought  to  be  regarded)  naval  aid 
will  he  necessary  to  the  pr^  ^ccution  oC  the  second 
part  of  the  plan.  As  the  iicci  is^  wind-bound,  and 
the  commodore  here,  explanations  on  these  points 
may  be  readily  and  conveniently  given.  Let  me 
know  the  reault,  and  believe  me 

Yours  truly, 

JOHN  ARMSTRONG. 

llajor  general  Wilkinson. 


0' 


Head  quarters,  Sackett's  Hi^rbor,  October  0, 1813. 


DEAR  SIR, 

The  commodore  and  myself  have  hitherto  un- 
derstood each  other  perfectly,  and  I  think  we  shall 
harmonize  to  the  end.  He  is  ready  to  sail  the  mo- 
ment the  wind  serves;  and  you  may  rest  assured 
that  nothing  essential  to  give  effect  to  the  open^ir 
tions  of  the  army  under  my  command,  and  to  ac'-' 
complish  the  views  of  the  government,  has  been  of 
shall  be  omitted. 

Respectfully  and  truly  yours, 
i  JA   WILKINSON, 


If* 


Honorable^JoIui  Armitrong,  s^^retar;^  of 


war,. 


*:K..: 


.M  •; 


t  ■ 


,  i    ■;' 


ind  tnd 
re  to  iU 
all  have 
'ing  our 
t  movc- 

NTObftbl^ 

ediately 
5Upy  tho 
leered  in 
lin  that, 
iav»l  as- 
\%  which 
tvai  aid 
B  second 
ind,  and 
Be  points 
Let  me 


ONG. 


g,  1813. 

erto  lin- 
we  shall 
the  mo- 
assured 

opera- 
I  to  ac- 
been  of 


lONii 


* 


[94] 


V». 


J90' 


Eitrtct  of «  letter  from  seneval  Wllkhiton  to  the  tw^rtiwrf 
of  war,  <Uted  He«il  quarterti  Sackctt's  Harbort  October, 
18,  1813. 

**  The  diminution  of  our  force  by  disease  aiid  ^ 
various  caiuftlties,  and  more  especially,  the  unter- . . 
tainty  of  the  period  of  our  movement  against  ' 
Montreal,  render  it  necessary,  in  my  judgm«it, 
that  you  should  revoke  the  order  of  march  you 
have  given  to  major  general  Hampton,  and  that 
he  should  be  directed  to  march  for  Morrisville,  at 
rapi^dly  as  may  be  consistent  with  the  health  of  his" 
troops.    This  proposition  is  founded  on  the  |)re- 
pumptioQ,  that  we  make  the  reduction  of  kings- 
ton  and  the  conquests  of  the  upper  provinces,  tlie 
first  .objects  of  our  operations." 


^  War  Department,  October  19,  1813. 

SIR,  ^ 

y  I  received  your  letter  of  yesterday,  and  should 
have  answered  it  more  promptly,  but  that  business 
of  the  south  and  west  required  my  immediate  at< 
tention.  i 

.  Whicn  on  the  4th  instant  you  returned  from 
fort  Crcprge,  we  had  the  prospect  r  >  speedy  con- 
centratioii  of  our  forces  at  this  point;  the  Niagara 
division  had  sailed  on  the  30th  ult.  the  enemy's 
principiil  force  occupied  a  cantonment  between 
mkts  Erie  and  Ontario;  his  fleet  was  at  the  head  of 
the  lake,  and  bis  garrison  at  Kingston,  reduced  to 
seven  or  eight  hundred  men.  Under  these  circum'f 
stances,  it  was  no  doubt  wise  to  decide  as  we  did; 
that  our  first  attack  should  be  carried  against  that 
^ace:  but  do  these  circumstances  any  longer  exists  t 
The  expected  concentration  is  but  now  effected, 


.^,. 


•i    '.V 


^4 


.1 

♦ 


,-f\ 


,^ 


'4d 


i  r 


i^-if 


JtSj'  '         '       '  #  _  ;  ,-,*■;'  .   .  .  \- .1.  >-   «r.^.'",.,v,i;-- j^. 

TlBth  of  October)  a  reinforcement  of  I|5dD  men  has 
been  thrown  into  Kingston;  the  Britishfleet  bas  got 
into  port  there,  and  our  force,  ftomdiseaseand  other 
casualties,  is,  according  to  your  statement,  diminish* 
cd  and  diminishing.  To  reinstate  and  augment  this, 
it  is  now  proposed  to  order  general  Hampton  from 
his  present  position  at  Chatauge,  to  MorrisyUle^ 
on  the  St.  Lawrence.  These  places  are  distant  up- 
wards of  one  hundred  miles.  A  march  of  such 
length  at  this  season  of  the  year,  and  in  the  pre- 
sent condition  of  the  roads,  loaded  as  he  is  with  a 
train  of  artillery,  with  means  of  subsistence,  and 
with  tents  and  baggage,  cannot  be  performed  un- 
der fifteen  days,  to  which  must  be  added  the  time 
necessary  for  giving  the  orde|%  for  making  the  ar« 
rangements  preliminary  to  siich  a  movement,  and 
for  making  also  the  subsequent  one  from*  Morris: 
ville  to  the  mouth  of  the  Gaunanoqui  river;  all  of 
which  would  probably  protract  the  moment  of 
junction  till  the  15th  of  November. 

Admonished  as  we  are  by  the  storms  which  have 
assailed  us  for  ten  days  past,  and  which  have  not 
yet  cjrscd,  I  cannot  but  think  that  a  period  se 
late  would  of  itself  be  fatal  to  the  project. 
i^Other  circumstances  lead  to  the  same  conclu'- 
sion.  Beginning  our  operations  from  the  i^outh 
Qf.  the  Gaunanoqui  river,  we  shall  have  a  march  of 
twenty-four  miles  to  Kingston,  and  through  a 
country  covered  with  woods,  destitute  of  inhabit 
tants,  and  pervious  only  by  two  roads,  which, 
without  any  interruption  from  the  enemy,  are  re- 
prcseni;ed  as  nearly  impassable  at  present.  This 
movement  (^unlike  that  originally  projected)*  can- 
not be  made  without  the  aid  of  horses,  and  a  less 
number  of  these  than  six  hundred,t  including  the 

^''A  descent  at  M<Pherson's  farm  two  tniies  and  ahalf  b«low  Kin£;8ton. 
<^  Forag«;  for  this  humbcr  was  required  by  the  genej^l.       ..,  .^  ..  ,  w 


■>:im:} 


tnenhas 
b»8got 
nd  other 
imtflish' 
lentthis, 
on  from 
rrisyUle^ 
itant  up- 
of  such 
thei  prc- 
is  with  a 
ice,  and 
med  un- 
the  time 
5  the  ar « 
ent,  and 
'  Morris : 
;r;  alt  of 
ment  of 


ave  not 
eriod  ee 


concluw 
i^outh 
narch  of 
rough  a 
inhabi' 
which, 
are  re- 
'  This 
d)*  can- 
id  a  lesB 
ling  the 

r  Kingston- 


[54] 


41*^- 


'-,•> 


2d  r^imerit  of  dragoolid,  19^  I  undergtafid,  d^Qti^-; 
ed  insufficient  ,.!]^f ow  Ihese  must  be  fed,  and  their   ? 
provipnder  di^yyi\ivbm  Jliis  placei,  as  the  country  .' 
between  Gravelly  poiiit  and  Putney vilje,  affords 
none, .  a:bd  interposes  a  giv^mpy  desart  which  shuts 
us  out  from  the  supplies  of  Rossie  and  Rayville,  &c. 
Ah  important  cjuestioii  arises  hefe— can  .the  neces- 
sary forage  be  obtained  from  this  tteighborhood? 
the  qtiartcf-master  general  says  "  it  cannot,  that  it  ^ 
must  be  carted  from  Lowville  (40  miles  fdistant);  ' 
and  transported  hence  by  water."    Thesekfacts,  ^' 
on  yovir  plan,  menace  our  operations  against  l^ingl'- 
ton  with  a  delay,  which  would  probaiblyslrrrdliiiid 
us  with  all  the  embarrassments  of  aj^anadi kn  win  • 
ter,  and  extinguish  every  hope  of  grasping  the" 
other^  „the  safer  and  the  greater  object^  belou'i     I 
call  it  the  safer  and  greater  object,  brcause--^* 

At  Montreal,  you  find  the  weaker  pl^c^,  imd 
the  smaller  force  to  enQOUnter:  at  Montreal,  yoti 
meet  a  fresh,  unexhausted,  efficielrit  reinforcement 
of  Ipiir  thousand  men:  at  Montreal,  you  approach 
your  own  resources^  and  establish  betweeriyou 
and  th^m  jan  easy  and  expeditious  intercourse:  a( 
Moritreal,  ydu  occupy  a  poiiht  whioh  must  be  gai|tf 
ed  in.  carrying  your  attacks  home  to  the  pur^s^s 
of  the  war,  and  which  if  seized  nnw,  m^I  Sl^ve  on^ 
campaign:  at  Montreal,  you  hold  a  position  whn^ 
completely  severs  the  enemy's  line  of  op^ratiotifl; 
which  shuts  up  the  Ottawa  as  well  as  the  §1;^: Lau- 
rence against  him,  and  which,  while  it  restrains 
all  below,  withers  and  perishes  ell  above  tts^f. 

These  general,  are  the  thoughts  which  pit^nt 
themselves  on  your  proposition,  and  which  {un- 
derstand as  abandoning,  for  this  campaign,  the 
proposed  attack  on  Montreal.  I  am  entirely  dis^ 
posed  to  listen  to  all  that  caa  be  said  on  the  otb«r^ 
side  of  the  question,  but  at  present,  the  jresi$o|)s 


''X 


v- 


■   ;',l 


o 


.-■■kk::"::(c. 


.*'■ 


4:. 


.-/. 


i;^ 


^grieii  ^1^^  me  no  dp«tit  ^f  ^jlhic  policy  of  ptrr- 
.f  ^lOitM^^  prbrnptiy  and  firmly^j*  the  pl^n  al^reiady  in- 
I.  fi^ ;  i^^tea,  and  which,  besklep  the  |a6probation  of  the 
'  j^resident,  hiis  received  the'^ificii^  of  a  C4»iincU 

.   1 J  1  am,  very  resp^tfully, 

.    Sir,  your  most  obedient  8er\'ant, 
JOHiN  ARMSTRONG. 

Major  general  Wilkinson. 


$-,■'   *'4 


•^^ 


V  /../. 


^    Ifead  quarters,  Sackett's  Harbor,  Octobf^r][^)lMd.        ^ 

ii^AR  SIR, 

■  'it ■■' '  ■    ■  '    '. ,  ,■■■■„•.    ■  ,       •■ 

V  i  was  about  to  emb]^rk  for  Grenadier  Island, 
iVheii  I  received  ^  ur  letter  of  this  morning,  which 
(will  endeavor  to  answer;  my  very  feeble  condi- 
tion, and4be  wapt  of  time  for  reflection,. disqualify 
me  Iroffi  doing  full  justice  to  my  opinions.  ;  . 
:  ITou  will  recollect  that  va  my  letter  of  the  6th  of 
August,  I  proposed  to  take  Kingston,  as  prelimi- 

"    *  This  irefera  to  the  preceding  p]an,  approved  by  the.  president  on  die 
2^  July,  and  commuhicMed  to  general  Wilkinson  on  the  5th  of  Atigust. 
f  This  couiKil  consisted  of  generals  WilkinEoni  Lewis,  i3row9,  and 
Sv^artwout,  and  commodore  Chauncey.    Th^  opinion  was  unaniraous. 
*  Note.— Before  the  secretary  of  war  left  Sackett's  Harbor,  and  while 
k.^was  deemed  practicable,  and  was  intended  to  carry  our  attacks  agains*: 
berth  K'injilkton  and  Montreal,  be  had  one  or  more  conversations  with 
comm«dar»  Chauncey,  on  the  general  subject  of  naval  c6>operation. — 
1'hese  h^  pi^rHGtilar  reference  to  two  points,  the  place  of  landing;  (in 
case  I^ingston  vfas  the   object  of  attack)  and  the  degree  of  firotectjioii 
which  the  fleeft  could  be  able  to  render  to  the  debarkation  of  the  army* 
The  dUlCibs  of  descent  indicated  by  the  secretary  wew  three: 
XsX.  M<I^erson's  farm,  two  miles  and  ahalf  ^/ow  Kingston. 
2d.  The  mouth  of  the  Little  Cataraqui,  four  or  five  nuleso^ove  Kings- 
ton; and, 
3d>  The  mouth  of  the  Gananoqui  river,  twenty-four  miles  ^/ow  Kings'* 
'ton, 

^fhe  commodore's  answer  was  substantially  as  follows:  that  he  would 
not  take  uppn  himself  the  refponsibllity  of  covering  the  landing;  of  the 
army  at  the ^«<  of  these  pomts,  but  th«t  he  wonld  cover  its  landing  at 
eitlter  of  the  other  two. 


>   * 


(■      ■.  . 


iready  in- 
ion  of  the 
I  cckineU 


ir  Island, 
ig,  which 
lie  GOndi- 
disqualify 

IS.,  -)     }  ■ 
he  6th  of 
prelimi- 

(ident  on  die 
of  A\jgust. 
iirowd.  and 
nanimous. 

anid  while 
tacks  agains*: 
sations  with 
•operation. — 
landing  (in 
of  protectjioii 
)f  tho  army- 

Aote  Kings- 

/ow  Kins;S' 

It  he  would 
iding  of  the 
laiuiins  at 


V 


. 'i. 


.i-V] 


/jN*^ 


•If'      -^ 


■■*:    ' 


■«>f  „ 


nary  to  an  attack  on  Moritri^al;  you  crffered  i  dif- 
fefchtopinipn  in  yoiir  tetter  of  thc^tliV and  oh  my 
arrival  here,  I  submitted  t^q  alternative  to  d.  cpUtt- 
^il  of  iviaj",  whifeii  d^E^dded  in  Ikvor  of  yoUr  pliiii  to 
leave  Kingston  i;iritoticfie<|»  and  proceed  direld|' 
Qgi^inst  Montrenl;  \i\it  tilt;(>rior  cop4cieratioiis  knd 
«n/0rma/ion*  hjive  Induced  me  to  Adhere  to  itiy  ov\* 
ginal  plan.  ■      r 

Permit  me,  previous  to  the  discussion  of  the 
grounds  of  my  opinion,  to  siibmit  a  few  incidental 
remarks.  ,  ' 

It  is  cjttrehicly  doidatful  what  may  bi^  the  jpre^^^ 
sent  force  of  the  enemy  at  Kingston,  and  very  urt-^; 
certain  how  ihuch  our  own  force  may  havfc  beei>^  ' 
diminished  by  disease,  and  the  cas'^^ties  attendr^- 
ing  our  movements-  ^ 

rrom  the  netreat  of  Proctof  before  ^heralHar^* 
risoti,  and  the  information  received  ftdtii  cdlob^i 
Scott,  I  tMfik  it  probable  that  D^  Rottenbci^,  wit^ 
the  ef&ctlve&  Of  his  division;  hks,  g(>die  to  rtinforc| 
Proct^f  and  that  the  ti'oops  wl^cb  have  desc^nd% 
ed  to  IC^hgston  consisted  onty  of  the  sick  of  that^ 
division.  1 

My  idea  of  recalling  general  Hampton  to  rcin^^ 
foite,ii$v  was  produced  by  an  alarm  with  respect 
to  the  ififsufficiency  of  our  force,  which  I  found 
spreading;  ahd  the  direction  which  I  Suggested 
was  founded  on  yeur  own  propositiont  of  tfe  lSt|ir 
instttnt/ftt  which  time  I  utYderstood  you  to  d0et  the 
opiAion,  that  the  march  from  Hampton^s  tH* 
eampm«ent  to  Morrisville  might  be  ^ccomplish^  t% 
si^  i&yif  arid  my  own  o^niod  is,  that  by  dis^m^i 

"':  "■.  =  ..    ■        .,   '  '    '  '•■  R 

*  This  ulter'Knr  informiatioh  wks  not  communicated  to  the  secrtury  of^. 

t  What  lik  yMett  caUed  a  prppotitim  was  bnt  a  quettioa,  nabetbfr  tb^' 
nmcb  mAi  iv  pirfai-fiud  in  tix  day^.  General  W^  answered  inthe  oeija^^ 
tivcjand  fdvised  that  general  mmptpn  jsl^td  ))<p  oxdered.  to  go  on  tq^^ 


v..  ■•, 


■i^_ 


*44 


r. 

> 


#- 


,r*» 


[5*] 


•t« 


barrassingHKasiTf  (Tmr^Hlei^  ifid  its  attirail, 
perhaps  he  mighl  be  able  to  make  the  march  in 
that  time,  or  a  few  days  more. 

My  reasons  tor  prefMng  the  attack  of  Kings- 
ton to  that  of  Montreal,  afe  these: 

By  the  reduction  of  that  place,  we  conquer  a 
province,  not  only  of  great  impdrtianc6  to  the  ene- 
my, but  a  Valuable  acquisition  to  ourselves;  we 
capture  or  destroy  four  thousand  of  his  best  troops; 
w  e  ^lit:  an  end  to  the  Indian  war,  and  by  the  des- 
truction of  his  naval  force,  establish  our  cottimand 
of  the  lake,  and  permit  a  respectable  part  of  our 
naval  force  to  be  employed  elsewhere, 
e  On  the  contrary*  leave  Kingston,  its  giarrison, 
and  thd  British  squadron  in  our  rear,  and  proceed 
to 'Montreal,  none  of  those  important  objects  will  be 
gained.  Theenemy  will  remain  in  undisturbedpos- 
sessidVi  of  the  province,  at  liberty  to  exercise  his  en- 
terprise against  this  frontier  at  discretion;  for  it  is  a 
fact,  however,  opinions  may  vary,  the  resources  o( 
the  province  are  adequate  to  the  subsistence  of  his 
army.  His  haval  superiority  on  the  lake  will  be  re  • 
established  by  the  opening  of  the  spring,  the  Indian 
depredations  may.  be  encouraged  and  continued; 
or  should  he  prefer  it,  he  may,  on  the  opening  of 
the  campaign,  leaving  sir  James  Yeo  triumplmnt 
on.  the  lake,  with  a  suitable  garrison  for  the  pro« 
teccion  of  Kingston,  descend  the  St.  Lawrence  with 
his  main  force  and  fall  upon  our  rear,  while:  we 
sliall  be  engaged  in  front,  admitting  we  succeed  in 
establishing  ourselves  at  Montreal.  ^  . 

^-Having  passed  Kingston,  the  fortifications  at 
j^j^escott  may  present  such  ari  obstacle  to  piir  fur- 
ther progress,  as  to  compel  us  to  land  anjd  reduee 
it  by  force;  an  operation  which  may  consume  more 
^ioe  than  can  be  spared  at  this  advanced  season. 
I  speak  conjecturallyy  but  should  we  surm^oimt 


•  1^ 


■rt 


'jiTiC;-;; 


>-•  .  J5-  \"  ■  .!'■ 


IS  attirail, 
march  in 


of  Kings- 


sonquer  a 
D  the  ene- 
lelves;  we 
sst  troops; 
y  the  des- 
::ommand 
irt  of  our 

garrison, 
1  proceed 
ctd  will  be 
irbed  pos- 
ike  his  en- 
for  it  is  a 
iources  of, 
ice  of  his 
v^iUbere- 
ie  Indian 
ontinued; 
)ehing  of 
Limphant 
■  the  pro* 
encewith 
vhile  we 
cpeed  in 

itions  at 
our  fur- 

i  reduce 

ne  more 
season. 

;irn|9Uiit 


^[541 


:*/% 


45** 


,  every  obstacle  in  descendin^jthe  riveif,  we  shi^t  ad- 
vance upon  Montreal  ignofeini  of  the  forpii  arrayed 
against  us,  and  in  iase  of  mtsfortune,  having  no  re* 
,  ^reat,  the  army  must  surrender  at  d]scro^ion.\  .  ^,, 
^  I  will  barely  addy  that  as  the  winter,  commences' 
at  Montreal  by  the  2Qtli  o(  November,  shoulcl  Wi 
be  delayed  6n  the  route  by  any  untowar4  inci- 
dents, our  embarrassmeujt^  and  perils  will  be  gresi^^ 
ly  multiplied.  »     r^^,,  '^ 

I  offer  these  results  of  iriy  frail  judgment  with  a 
consciencious  regard  to  the  public  good.    I  ani  bi- 
gotted  to  no  project,  and  therefore  anri  willing  to 
yield  my  own  judgment  to  that  of  others. 
4k    personal  considerations  would  make  me  prefer 
.^li  visit  to  Montreal  to  the  attack  of  Kin^ston^  but 
;-'before  I  abandon  thi&attack,  which  by  my  instruc- 
.^tipiis^  I  am  ordered  to  make,  it  is  iiecessary^  ^jnfiy 
Jw«<«^<ra(ion,  that  you  should  by  the  atdhontygfthe 
(presidents  direct  the  operations  of  the  army  under 
nqiy   command,   paHicularhj    against    MoniveaL 
With  my  earnest  wishes  for, the  successful  issue  of 
whatever  may  be  undertaken^.  I  am,  dear  sir,  with 
.  much  respect  and  esteem,  truly  yours, 

JA.  WILKINSON. 

The  honorable  John  Armstrong,  secretaiy  of  war.       nf  /^  ; 

N.  B.  All  the  objections  which    .pply  to  the 

^^Irinding  below  Kingston  tin  ay  be  obvkted  6y  land- 

f  ;ing  above  it.     My  sole  motive  for  suggesting  the 

idea  of  landing  below,  was  to  prevent  the^orrtson'^ 

eSscape.    If  there  H*;  a  deficiency  of  forage  on  our 

part,  it  is  the  fault  of  the  quai  t^r-master  general. 

who  was  instructed  as  early  as  August,  tofay  i<»  5* 

supply  of  tw^elve  thousand  bushels  for  the  sobsit:- 

t*tcnce  of  the  cavalry.  *    tf 

JA.  WIUCINSQN.  ^ 

"^"^Honorable  J.  Armstrong,  secretary  of  war»     "^ 'v^      * 


"1 
■4 


■•^.Ajf' 


C543 


Endoftemtnt  on  the  preceding  letter,  by  the  secretary^    '" 

'.  df^war. 

*       I  ■  ..  '  ■,'■  .    ■ 

Note.    If  we  look  at  the  pha  of  tumjiaig::  of 
;    theSSd  if  July,  wc  fincJ  that  it  prop^.ted  aa  atia^'k,:  , 
>on  Kingiion,  ahd  even  indicat^tl  tiie  iAode  of  ^ti*!^.;.  ^ 
■•"  attarlc*'  Ifwc  examine  ^f.i-»eral"^:Vilkhi<iori'^  kiii>#^ 
of  the  6th  of  August,  wc  iiad  that  he  provisionaUy*^;* 
adapted  th«t  opinion  antflf  ^r«  n^erer  to  the  letter  |- 
,  of  the  secretary  of  vv,ir  of  tKe  8th,  sofar'from  eic*  *^' 
pi-eisiVi^g  a  different  opimou,  we  dfscover  tha^  i^iw  ^ 
tit  ranted  the  gen?Talto  choose  betvvet'n  a  dir^ti^tand^ 
an  imHreci  attack  on  that  post      It  ^va»  i  vtthere- 
feiCjEtny  differmce  of  op\imnbcXwaeii  tl\e  secreta- 
ry  ijui  th'i  general  that   was  stfhmitted  to  the 
c'our^^tl  of  war,  as  stated  in  the  preceding  ^letter, 
bil  ;he  mere  alternative  presented  by  thfe  iHstruc-  ^ 
lions  of  the  letter,  the  simple  choice  Betw^e^n  the 
two  modes  of  attack.  .  ;' 


>< 


SIR, 


War  Hcp^rtinent,  October  20,  11^3. 


I  received  your  letter  of  yesterday  by  raSiJcir 
liCe.  You  appear  to  liave  written  it  under  aft  im- 
pression, thi*.t  your  instructions  of  August  last 
made  a  direct  attack  upon  Kingston  unavordable. 
A  copy  of  these  instructions  is  before  me,  and  in 
the  ia5tt  paragraph  of  them  we  find  a  summary  of 
their  substance.  It  is  as  follows:  "  After  this  ex- 
position, it  is  unnecessary  to  add)  that  in; conduct- 
ing the  present  campaign,  you  will  make  Kiftgi- 
ion  youi*  principal  object,  and  that  you  will  choose, 
as  circumstances  may  indicate,  t ween  a  direct 
^^and  <in  indirect  attack  on  that  p 
of  ftl»*^ck  are  slightly  detai**»d  i; 
a  prt  <:  ^nce  given  to  thelat  er 


•iV'- 


'^r"^  J,'^ 


Both  naode% 
.icse  orders,  and 
vUt  without  at  a!i 


'i*!:    ^.  > 


■■>#•"■ " 


last 
able, 
d  in 
ry  of 

Is  eJt-.' 
uct- 

odeis^^. 

and 

k.taU 


A. 


iV' 


#*■ 


■»„f; 

in 


^  _  your  rig^  9f  cbibice,  or  ip  am^^d^^ 
lessenTng"  y ouf<  reapd^ibi lity .  ^oi*  am  /  tiow  dl 
liheriy  to  change  jM^t^^ 
^  since  thppnly  etfe^  pf  l)ii»;WOMld  be,  <o  ^ubstiitUe 
]  my  opipior^  jwi  yo^r^,  .  Tbie  former  has,  itot'lid w*; 
ever  been  witbheld;  it  has  been  given  freely  and 
fally,  and  i^  yet  unshal^en  by  any  consideration 
presented  tp' my  miod.       .  .  i) 

'^  As  vve  q.ri  mv^  about  to  part,  it  may  be  proper 
that  I  should  subjoin  to  what  I  have  said  in  favor 
of  a  mo^cni^nt  on  Montreal,  a  short  statement  of 
my  objections  to  a  direct  attack  on  Kingston. 

1st.  if  its  garrison  consists  of  four  tliousani  of 
the  best  troops  of  the  enemy  (^s  you  suggest)  .your 
attack  will  fail. 

;■  ,2^.  If  your  attacti:  fails,  your  retreat  is  imprac-. 
ticabic.^' ■,  ^,  '!■■''■'•■.  ^^     '■ 

Sd.  .Vpur  descent  must  necessarily  be  made 
above  or  below  the  town,  on  the  water's  edge, 
and  within  a  short  distance  of  your  object  If 
made  6elo!jDP  the  to\yn,  your  fleet  cannot  cover  it:* 
if  m(ade  a&o're  the  town,  it  must  be  done  in  pre- 
sence of  the  enemy,  and  within  stroke  of  his  neet;, 
and  th^t  he  will  think  the  object  suHicient  to  jus  - 
tify  the  risk  cannot  be  doubted.  Besides,  an  ap« 
profich  on  this  side,  however  successful,  leaves  to 
the  enemy  the  means  of  escaping^ 

4th.  riie  experiment  already  made  of  the  lake 
navigation  is  not  encouraging.  Though  pressed 
by  no  pnemy  other  than  the  weather,  the  army 
has  not  been  able  to  reach  Grenadier  island,  but  in 
l>'ok(in  ordii,  and  with  considerable  loss.  'On 
>  our  plan,  ♦^"^ey  have  eig!iiec:n  other  miles  to  go 
on  the  open  lake,  and  Tii^ah  of  this  distance  unc^ 
the  eye  of  the  British  fleet,    is  it  probable  ths^' 

*  Con.  Chauncey  declami  he  v^ouU  not  ta|(e  the  res]J0n8ibiiity  of 
covering  the  descent  of  the  army  if  mad :  at  M'PherBon's  farm,  bthn 

the  lown.     .  ,,^,„  i,,      ' './U.^   .v^ 


^#>'  '-' 


^# 


48 


[54] 


^^/ 


i:. 


,  out  scBt^  will'  bfc  able  lo  navigate  this  remaining 
r  distance  (at  a  season  and  under  circumstances  so 
l^nl^vorable)  in  better  order,  or  with  less  loss? 
f  Theso  are  the  best  thought*,  I  can  oiIer>  and  it 
onfy  remains  to  add  to:  them  my  best  wishes  for 
'  your  army  and  for  yourself. 

>^  JOHN  ARMSTRONG, 

.  Majbr  general  Wilkinson.  .. 


i^'- 


Lady  of  the  Lake,  off  Sackett's  Harbor, . 

October  24,  1813. 


^•^■-c 


SIR, 

I  was  at  Grenadier  Island  the  day  before  yes- 
.  terday,  and  found  the  troops  dropping  in  so  slow- 
ly, that  I  determined  to  return,  hunt  tnem  up,  and 
^  qiiicken  their  movement.     My  presence  at  the 
Harbor  was  also  necessary  to  have  clothing  se- 
lected to  cover  numbers  of  our  naked  men. 

I  will  say  nothing  of  the  horrid  condition  in 
which  that  place  wjta    left.     Colonel  Coles  has 
arrived  with  upwards  of  t\yo  hundred  good  men, 
and  expects  about  eighty  more  to*>day.     Randolph 
and  Scott  are  expected  at  Oswego,  nine  hundred 
strong.     I  have  contrived  to  rig  «i«id  send  off  ves- 
sels to  bring  up  six  hundred  of  them  in  season  for 
my  movement  from  Grenadier  Island,  which  will 
"  not  be  delayed  one  instant  unnecessarily.    The 
'  people  at  Kingston  appear  to  be  much  affrighted, 
firing  theii'  alarm  guns  on  the  slightest  appearance. 
fJ.  N.  has  returned,  and  if  he  may  be  credited,  De 
'^Rottenberg  has  not  arrived,  and  all  the  force  they 
*  can  spare  is  spirit  down  the  river  to  take  possession 
of,  arid  fortify  isome  critical  passes.    My  health 
continues,  unfortunately,  bad. 
1  have  the  honor  to  be, 


■4 


ir'^Vii|'-l^;sr: 


l^  ■'**■ 


Jlost  respectfully,  Sir,  ;,-^  « 

Your  obdt.  ticpvant,    '-^'4' 
JA.  WILKINSON, 


« 


'"J,.'  x'""^  *■':' 


'•[?*]  i' 


<*  -, 
1 1    * . 


4r 


Extracts  of  a  letter  from  niajor  general  Wilkinaon  to  the 
secretary  of  war,  dated  Grenadier  hland,  October  39}  18ia. 


« 


I  send  you  thiii  by  an  6xtra  aid  de  cainp>  cap- 
tain Xourse,  to  relieve  the  anxiety  to  whicli  yoii^ 
must  be  subject}  in  the  impending  eventful  mo^- 
jiient."  , 

'*The  extent  of  the  injuries  to  our  craft,  the  cloth-  ^' 
ing  and  arms  of  the  men,  and  to  our  provisions  on  the  <; 
passage  from  Sackett's  Harbor  to  this  place,  great- 
\y  exceeded  our  apprehensions,  and  has  subjected 
us  to  the  necessity  of  furnishing  a  supply  of  cloth- '' 
ing,  and  of  making  repairs  and  equipments  to  our 
flotilla  generally.     In  fact,  all  our  hopes  have  been 
very  nearly  blasted;  but  thanks  to  the  same  pro- 
vidence which  placed  us  in  jeopardy,  we  are  sur- 
mounting our  difficulties,  and,  God  willing,  I  shall 
pass  Prescolt  on  the  night  of  the  1st  or  2d  proxo., 
if  some  unforseen  obstacle  does  not  present  to  for**, 
bid  me.     I  shall  expect  to  hear  from  you  at  IViur- 
risvilte,  where  colonel  Swift  is  to  meet  me,  and  to 
guard  against  chance  shots,  I  wish  wrgons  would 
be  held  in  readiness  to  receive  our  powder  and 
field  ammunition,  at  a  suitable  distance  above 
Pfescott"  >  * 

"  I  keep  up  the  delusion  here;  and  the  enemy, 
about  sixteen  hundred  strong,  exclusive  of  Ave 
hundred  militia,  are  in  daily  expectation  of  a  visit 
at  Kingston,  yet  they  have  taken  post,  I  urider- 
stand,  lit  Cornwall  and  the  coteau  de  L. 
No  matter:  once  passed  Prcscott,  and  our  bayoiiet| 
and  sabres  shall  remove  all  impediments." 

"  The  inexorable  winds  and  rainis  continue  to 
oppose  and  embarrass  our  movements;  but  I  am 
sei^/K-?g  on  every  moment's  interval,  to  slip  into  the 
fc}vLmTence  corps  and  detachments,  as  they  cart 
be  got  ready.     Our  rendezvous  will  be  in  Bush 

*7 


m 


■m 


€^ 


J^d!} 


liil^A 


'^M 


[54J 


•# 


-^  -.      ■       —  - .  -     ^  - . .       . .   .    .  ■    ^ 

creek,  about  twv^nly  miles  below,  and  nearly  oppo- 
sitr  to  Ganunoqui,  which  position  menaces  a  de> 
scent  on  the*  opposite  shore.  1  shall  sail  from  that 
p  r  .M  t  four  o'clock  of  the  morning,  and  will 
j>  i'V  V  c'scctt  about  the-  same  time  the  ensuing 
morning  " 

"  We  have  had  such  a  fluctualion  of  sick  and 
well  between  this  place  and  Sackett's  Harbor,  that 
it  is  impossible  t*^  "- v  in  what  force  we  shall  move; 
but  I  calruidtc  on  0000  combatants,  exclusive  of 
Scott  and  Randolph,  neither  of  whom  will,  I  fear, 
be  up  in  season,  notwithstanding  all  my  arrange/ 
ments  and  exertions  to  accelerate  their  march:  they 
are  both  under  provisional  orders  for  Ogdcnsburg." 


s  •  1- 


f^^     ,,  WAR  DEPARTMENT, 

Denmark,  October  30,  9  o'clock,  P.  M. 

DEAR  GENERAL,  ^  ^' 

^,  1  this  moment  received  your  despatch  by  cap- 
tain Nourse.  I  rejoice  that  your  difficulties  arc 
so  far  surmounted  as  to  enable  you  to  say  with  as- 
surance when  you  will  pass  Prescutt.  I  should 
have  met  ^ou  there;  but  bad  roads,  worse  wea- 
ther, i-nd  a  coMsiderable  degree  of  illness  admo- 
li  vhed  »ne  agaii.at  receding  further  from  a  point 
where  my  engagements  call  me  about  the  1st 
pro^cimo,  The  resuluti  n  oi  treading  back  my 
steps  was  taken  at  Antwerp,  nmd  communicated 
in  a  letter  fiom  that  place  by  major  Lush.  I 
wrote  a  sins'c  line  to  you  to-day,  giving  the  for- 
tunate issi :•  "  H  f^rison's  business,  and  his  arrival 
at  fort  George  wi>h  M' Arthur's  brigade.  If  Vin- 
cent be  within  the  peninsula,  Harrison  will  root 
him  out  Jt  remains  with  you  to  sweep  the  rest 
of  the  line  before  you.     Montreal  taken,  what  are 


Pr 
tici 


Ma 


^ 


'     '■■  ■ 


-4] 


SI' 


•-;„4  -"f  <  < 


ply  oppo- 

ct'8  a  de* 

rom  that 

and  will 

ensuing 

sick  and 
rboi',  that 
all  move; 
[jlusive  of 
ill,  I  fear, 
arrange- 
irch:  they 
ensburg." 


k,  P.  M. 


by  cap- 

iltics  arc 

with  ag- 

I  should 

^rse  wca- 

;s  admo- 

a  point 

the  1st 

[ack  my 

inicatcd 

.ush.     I 

the  for- 

arrival 

If  Vin- 

i\\  root 

Ithe  rest 

'hat  are 


Prescott  and  Kingston?  Give  Hampton  timely  nor 
tice  of  your  approach,  and  of  the  place  and  hour  of 
junction. 

Yours  sincerely,  ^ 

JOHN  ARMSTRONG. 

Major  general  Wilkinson. 


s«-.;, 


^t'5#l? 


Extracts  of  a  letter  from  major  general  Wilkinson  to  the 
sertetary  of  war,  dated  Gienadier  Island,  Nov.  1,  1813.    f 

**  You  will  perceive  from  the  duplicate  under 
cover  (letter  ot  th<  28th  of  October ^  what  were 
my  calculations  four  days  since;  but  the  winds 
and  waves  and  rains  and  snow  still  prevail,  and 
wc  have  made  several  fruitless  attempts  to  turn 
Stoney  point,  one  of  them  at  great  peril  to  three 
thousand  men,  whom  I  seasonably  remanded  to 
the  i  irbor  without  the  loss  of  a  life.  Our  sick, 
on  hundred  and  ninety-six  in  number,  have  not 
fared  as  well:  they  were  embarked  in  stout  com- 
fortable vessels,  and  sailed  the  day  before  yester*'* 
day  morning  for  Sackett's  Harbor,  but  they  were 
J  'n  on  shore  by  a  storm,  which  continued  with 
uinemittmg  violence  all  night;  and  as  no  exertion 
could  relieve  them,  I  anticipated  the  loss  of  the 
whole;  but  the  tempest  having  abated,  and  the 
wind  shifted  from  S.  W.  to  N.  E  boats  Vr  ere  sent 
out  yesterday  morning,  and  Dr.  Bull  repoi  is  the 
loss  of  three  men  only.  Other  means  oi  trans- 
port will  be  provided  to-morrow,  and  these  un- 
fortunate men  will  be  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Sack-  ir 
eit's  Harbor." 

*'  Brigadier  Brown  with  his  brigade,  the  light  ar- 
tillery, the  riflemen^  the  volunteeis,  the  gun  boats, 
Bissel's  regiment,  and  a  part  of  Macomb's  are,  I 


t: 


I 


f 


•52 


[54] 


expect,  lafe  at  French  creek,  with  the  artillery' 
and  ordnance  stores.  These  corps  ha\  e  made  the 
traverse  of  the  arm  of  the  lake  under  circum- 
stances of  great  danger,  though  fortunately  with- 
out the  loss  of  a  life,  but  at  the  expense  of  some 
buats." 

^  1  shall  wait  one  day  longer,  and  if  the  passage 
should  still  continue  ixnpracticable  to  the  troops, 
1  will  land  them  on  tne  opposite  shore,  march 
them  across  the  country  to  the  St.  I^wrence,  and 
send  the  empty  boats  round  to  a  given  rendez- 


vous 


V 


**  As  major  general  Hampton  is  und^r  your  or- 
ders, permit  me  to  suggest  to  you  what  is  worthy 
of  reflection — whether  he  should  take  a  position 
and  wait  the  arrival  of  my  command  near  the 
confluence  of  the  St.  Lawrence  and  Grand  river, 
or  Whether  he  should  move  down  the  St  Law- 
rence and  menace  Chambly?  If  he  is  strong 
enough  to  meet  sir  George,  the  latter  will  be  the 
"preferable  plan,  because  it  will  have  the  effect  to 
divide  the  enemy's  force;  otherwise  he  should 
adopt  the  first  idea,  hazard  nothing,  and  strengthen 
my  hands." 

^*  The  enclosed  eopy  of  a  memorandum  from 
colonel  Swift  will  show  you  what  he  is  about,  I 
flatter  myself,  to  your  satisfaction.  The  sole  un- 
pleasant circumstance  before  me,  is  our  total  ig- 
norance of  the  preparatuma  of  sir  George,  and 
what  we  may  expect  to  meet  on  the  island.  I 
fear  no  consequences;  but  it  must  be  painful  to 
lead  more  than  six  thousand  men  to  battle  hood- 
#  winked;  and  yet  all  my  efforts  to  procure  intelli^ 
./ gence  from  Montreal  have  proved  fruitless." 


♦fi- 


V 


^■«' 


i 


[543 


A5* 


I  aiiiilcry' 
made  the 
'  circum- 
;e1y  with- 
)  of  some 

le  passage 
ic  troops, 
'Cf  inarch 
ence,  and 
{\  rcndez- 

'  your  or- 
is worthy 
I  position 
near  the 
and  river, 
St  Law- 
is  strong 
ill  be  the 
;  efTect  to 
le  should 
trengthen 

lum  from 
about,  I 
5  sole  un- 
r  total  ig- 
)rge,  and 
filand.  I 
minful  to 
ttle  hood- 
re  intelli^ 
fss." 


Jk&xtract  of  a  letter  froin  the  secretary  of  war  to  general  Wil* 
kinsoDi  dated  War  Department,  1st  November,  1,813. 

'  "Prcvost  will  perhaps  be  found  between  the  ro- 
teau  dc  Lac  and  the  Isle  Perrot.  If  wise,  he  will 
attempt  to  fight  yuu  before  your  junction  With 
Hampton.  Avoid  this,  leave  nothing  to  chance 
that  you  can  settle  on  your  own  terms.  A  junc- 
tion with  Hampton  enables  you  to  give  the  law." 


:*'* 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  general  Wilkinson  to  the  secretary 
of  war,  dated    Grenadier  Island,  Kovcmbcr  3,   1813,  7 
i   o'clock,  A.  M. 

'*  The  troops  and  squadron  arc  at  lust  in  t)ie  ri- 
ver, excentiag  Macomb^s  regiment,  with  which  I 
shall  join  tWem  by  10  o'clock,  as  the  weather  is 
propitiotis.  Extreme  illness^  and  the  arrival  of 
colonel  Randolph  with  230  men,  kept  me  here  last 
evening.  We  shall  be  encamped  at  French  creek 
to-night;  will  take  to-morrow  for  final  organiza- 
tion and  arrangement  and  the  next  day  cither  puss 
Or  prepare  to  tAke  Prescott;  by  preference  I  shall 
liot  disturb  the  p|aee,  because  I  Iv^ye  nQt.|/iine  to 


.4'-:, 


S;^'. 


spare 

"'(Extract) 

Albany,  12th  November,  1813. 

DEAR  GENERAL,  *'^^^.^^- 


'.■'i 


*5lj)*.< 


My  accounts  from  and  of  you  are  of  the  same 
hdate.     Neither  come  down  lower  than  the  3d  in- 
stant.    These  left  you  witji  the  reserve  tit  Grena- 
-dier  Island. 

^  Qeneral  IJaniptoi)  has  made  a  tnotrement  to- 
wards the  ^.  Lawrence.  After  feeling  and  skir- 
mishing with  the  enemy,  he  retired  again  to  the 
Four  Corners,  until  he  had  notice  of  your  approach. 


w 


'v.'^  f 


'S4 


[5*1 


1  hastened  to  inform  him  by  express  (who  would 
reach  him  in  48  hours)  that  you  were  in  motion; 
that  on  the  5th  you  would  pass  or  take  Prescott, 
and  that  on  the  8th  you  would  be  at  Hamilton/ 
whence  he  might  expect  to  hear  from  you;  that  he 
must  put  himself  again  in  motion,  and  take  a  po« 
sition  which  would  enabis  him  to  join  you,  or 
which  should  detain  the  enemy  on  the  south  side 
of  the  river.  If  Prevost,  on  learning  your  ap- 
proach, quits  his  present  position,  and  re- occupies 
the  north  bank  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  Hampton 
goes  on  and  joins  you.s  If  he  remains  on  the 
south  bank,  he  abandons  Montreal  and  even  the 
road  to  hi  ^  capital.  In  the  fulness  of  my  faith  that 
you  are  in  Montreal,  and  that  you  have  both  seen 
and  seized  on  all  the  advantages  that  the  errors  of 
an  enemy  may  have  given  you,  I  am, 

'"^'^^  J\^!^^Sppar  general,.        •  '^" :' .  ^:  W^i^'^ 
i  •  s  it^*     I   -i-^-.  Cordially  yours, 

'-. -^  .^.w  ^,-..:.  .,...^  ^  j^  ARMSTRONG. . 


>,>.. 


Major  general  Wilkinson.  <       ^ 


"^m 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  major  general  Wilkinson  to  the 
secretary  of  war,  dated  French  Mills,  Nov.  15,  1813, 

It  is  a  fact,  for  which  I  am  authorised  to  pledge 
mj'scif  on  the  most  confidential  authority,  that  on 
the  4th  of  the  present  month  the  British  garrison 
of  Montreal  consisted  solely  of  four  hundred  ma- 
rines and  two  hundred  sailors,  which  had  been 
sent  up  from  Quebec.  What  a  golden,  glorious 
opportunity  has  been  lost  by  the  caprice  o?  major 
general  Hampton.        r   y; 


'^ 


^'\ 


< 


.^v- 


-<n,-^.^. 


4-im^ 


~if""^- 


V,  nt 


%■■■ 


'ould 
tion; 
scott, 

lltOtlj 

at  he 
%  po« 
J,  or 
t  side 
[•  ap- 
upies 
ipton 
I  the 
n  the 
ithat 
seen 
•rs  of 


Gr,    C 

W, 

'    ^>   ■ 

>  the 

13, 

A 

;dge 

is' 

t  on 
ison 

■~i- 

Ima- 

,\__ 

leen 

,,'^ 

lous 

,3\ 

< 


4jor 


.o 


[54] 


b^o 


r;* 


ead  quarters^  f^rench  Mills,  adjoining  the  province  of  t. 
Canada,  November  16, 1813.  i^, 


■Vti^i 


SIR, 

I  beg  leave  to  refer  you  to  the  journal  which  ac- 
companies  this  letter,  for  the  particulars  of  the 
movement  of  the  corps  under  my  command  down 
the  St  Lawrence,  and  will  endeavor  to  exert  my 
enfeebled  mind  to  detail  to  you  the  more  striking 
and  important  incidents  which  have  ensued  my 
departure  from  Grenadier  Island,  at  the  foot  of 
lake  Ontario,  on  the  ^d  inst.  ^ 

The  corps  Of  the  enemy  from  Kingston,  which 
followed  me,  hung  on  my  rear;  and,  in  concert 
with  a  heavy  galley  and  a  few  gun-boats,  seemed 
determined  to  retard  my  progress.  I  was  strongly 
tempted  to  halt,  turn  about  and  put  an  end  to  his 
teazings;but  alas,  I  was  confined  to  my  bed.  Ma- 
jor general  Lewis  was  too  ill  for  any  active  exer- 
tion; and,  above  all,  I  did  not  dure  suffer  myself  to 
be  diverted  a  single  day  from  the  prosecution  of  the 
views  of  the  government.  I  had  written  major 
general  Hampton  on  the  6th  inst.  by  his  adjutant 
general,  colonel  King,  and  had  ordered  him  to 
form  a  junction  with  me  on  the  St.  Lawrence, 
which  1  expected  would  take  place  on  the  9th  or 
10th.  It  would  have  been  unpardonable  had  I  lost 
sight  of  this  object  a  moment,  as  I  deemed  it  of 
vital  importance  to  the  issue  of  the  campaign. 

The  enemy  deserve  credit  fo:  their  zeal  and  in- 
telligence, which  the  active  universal  hostility  of 
the  male  inhabitants  of  the  country  enable  them  to 
employ  to  the  greatest  advantage.  '^I'hus,  while 
menaced  by  a  respectable  force  in  rear,  the  coast 
was  lined  by  musquetry  in  front  at  every  critical 
pass  of  the  river,  which  obliged  me  to  march  a  de- 
tachment, and  this  impeded  my  progress.  ^ 

On  the  evening  of  the  9th  instant,  the  army  Jialt- 


-**• 


•Mt   ■  i 


,«•' 


1 


■  cd  a  few  iniles  fi*om  the  head  of  the  longue  saut. 

.^  In  the  morning  of  the  10th,  the  enclosed  oiderw^s 
issued.  (General  Brown  inarched  agreeably  to  or- 
der, and  about  noon  we  were  apprised,  by  the  re- 
port of  his  artillery,  that  he  was  engaged  some  dis 
tance  below  us.  At  the  same  time  the  enemy 
were  observed  in  our  rear,  and  their  galley  and  gu'i 
bbats  approached  our  flotilla  and  opened  a  fire  on 
us,  which  obliged  me  to  order  a  battery  of  eighteen 
pounders  to  be  planted,  and  a  shot  from  itcom- 
pelled  the  vessels  of  the  enemy  to  retire,  together 
with  their  troops,  after  some  firing  between  the  ad- 
vanced parties.  But,  by  this  time,  in  consequence 
of  disembaiking  and  re-embarking  the  heavy  guns, 
die  day  was  so  far  spent,  that  our  pilots  did  not 
dare  enter  the  saut,  (eight  miles  a  continued  rapid) 
and  there/fore  we  fell  down  about  two  miles,  and 
came  to  for  the  night.  Eaily  the  next  morning  every 
thing  was  in  readiness  for  motion;  but,  having  re- 
ceived no  intelligence  from  general  Brown,  Ivvas 
still  delayed,  as  sound  caution  prescribed  I  should 
learn  the  result  of  his  aifair  before  I  committed 
the  flotilla  to  the  saut.  At  half  past  ten  o'clock 
A.  M.  an  officer  of  dragoons  arrived  with  a  letter, 
in  which  the  general  informed  me  he  had  forced 
the  enemy,  and  would  reach  the  foot  of  the  saut 
early  in  the  day.  Orders  were  immediately  given 
for  the  flotilla  to  sail,  at  which  instant  the  enemy's 
gun  boats  appeared,  and  began  to  throw  shot 
among  us.  Information  was  brought  me  at  the 
same  time,  from  brigadier  general  Boyd,  that  the 
enemy's  troops  were  advancing  in   column.     ( 

•  immediately  sent  orders  to  him  to  attack  them, 
^^his  report  was  soon  contradicted:     Their  gun 
,^oats  however  continued  to  watch  us,  and  a  va- 
riety  of  reports  of  their  movements  and  counter- 
movements  were  bi'ought  to  me  in  succession, 


■:/f 


i".     * 

■   .1 


i  ic^*k4%- 


e  saut.. 
ler  wj^s 
'  to  or- 
Ihe  re*- 
medis -^ 
enemy 
ndgii'i 
fire  oil 
ighteeii 
iLcoiti- 
jgethcr 
the  ad- 
quencc 
yguns, 
lid  not 
[rapid) 
es,  and 
g  every 
^ing  rc- 
,  !  was 
thpuld 
imitted 
o'clock 
I  letter, 

forced 
he  saut 
y  given 
neray's 
y  shot 

at  the 
hat  the 
mn.  ( 
i  them. 
eir  gun 
a  va- 
ounter- 
cession, 


5i* 


w\tich  cotiViiMied  mb  pf  Ihibir  4et^f tninatipn  to  t^ 
zard  an  attack  when  itcbiiM  be  done  to  the  ge^ 
est  advantage,  and  th«^refore  I  detecfiiin^d  ^  ^ti- 
ticipate  them.  tyiced^k^m»  Vnei^rf!^ 
by  that4Kstinguished'dffi€er^  (^tpnel  S^ift,  of  the 
engineers,  to  tHgadlet*  genepai  Boyd  to  thro^  the 
detachnoent  of  his  .clf^iAm^nd^  assigiied  to  J^irri  in 
the  order  of  the  preceding  day,  and  composed  of 
men  from  his  own;  Covington's  and  Swai^woiit's 
brigades^  intb  three  colbmnsj  to  march  upon  the 
eneniy,  otU  fifiiik  ti^im,  if  poSsU)le,  and  take  their 
art'fUery.  THe  iietf^fr  soon  after  commenced  witli 
the  advanced  body  of  the  enemy,  and  became  ex- 
tremely sharp  and  galling;  and  with  occasional 
pausesj  was  sustained  with  great,  vivacity,  in  open 
space  and  fair  coinbat,  for  upwards  of  two  and 
a  half  hours,  th'^  adverse  lines  alternately  yield> 
ing  and  advancing.  It  is  impossible  to  say  with 
accuracy  what  was  our  number  on  the  field,  be- 
cause it  conslisted  of  indefinite  detachments  taken 
from  the  boats  to  render  safer  the  passage  of  the 
saut.  .Brigadi0r  generals  Covington  and  Swart- 
wout  voluntanly  took  part  in  the  action  at  the  head 
of  the  detachments  from  their  respective  brigades, 
and  exhibited  the  same  courage  that  was  displayed 
by  brigadier  general  Boyd,  who  happened  to  be 
the  senior  officer  on  uic  ground.  Our  force  en- 
gaged might  have  reached  sixteen  or  seventeen 
hundred  men,  but  certainly  did  not  exceed  eighteen 
hundred.  That  of  the  enemy  was  estimated  at 
from  twelve  hundred  to  two  thousand,  but  did 
not  probably  amount  to  more  than  fifteen  qr  six- 
teen hundred,  consisting^  as  I  am  informed,  of 
detachments  from  the  49th,  84th,  and  104th  re- 
giments of  the  line^  with  three  companies  of  the 
voltigeurand  Gtcngary  Q^orps  mid  the  militia  of 
the  country,  who  are  not  Included  in  t)ie  estimate. 
It  would  be  presumptuous  in  me  to  attempt  to 

■♦8 


.     F 


m 


"II 

0' 


■,'".  i"  ,'-;-">.-':^ 


■  i'.       . 


giV^e  you  a  availed  accpupioftbif  affair,  which  ccr- 
fitainiy  Reflects  lii^^  hoi^pr  on  the  valor  of  the  Ame- 
lyrcai)  soldier,  as^no  diiraple  can  be  produced  of 
^undisciplined  men,    with  incicpenenced  officers^ 
= bWrT^  a^  ^re  ot  two  hoifi|i^  ^nd  a  halfy^vithout 
.  quittiiTg  the  fieMy  or  yieli^ng  to  th^=  antagonists. 
Btiti  fc  the  inferniatii^^^  ^f  now  give  you  i&  de- 
rived frbni  offfbers  of  iriy  confidence,  who  took 
active  pi'rts  in  this  conflict;  fbr,  though  I  was  en- 
abled to  order  the  attack,  it  was  my  bard  fortune 
not  to  be  able  to  lead  the  troops  1  commanded. — 
The  disease  with  which  I  vi^as  i^assailed  on  the  2d 
of  September,  on  my  journeyjio  fOrt  George,  ha- 
ving, v/lth  a  few  short  intervals  of  convalescence, 
preyed  on  me  ever  since;  and  at  the  moment  of 
this  action,  I  was  confined  to  my  bed,  and  emacia- 
ted almost  to  a  skeleton,  unable  to  set  my  horse,^ 
or  to  move  ten  paces  withoiit  assistance. 

I  must,  however,  be  pardoned  for  trespassing  on 
your  tinfie  a  few  remarks  in  relation  to  tl;ie  affair. 
The  objects  of  the  British  and  American  com- 
manders were  precisely  opposed;  the  last  being 
bound  by  the  instructions  of  his  government,  and 
the  most  solemn  obligations  of  duty  to  precipitate 
his  descent  of  the  St.  Lawrence  by  every  practica- 
ble means;  becau.  e  this 'neing  effected,  one  of  the 
greatest  difficulries  opposed  to  the  American  army 
would  be  surmounted.  And  the  first,  by  duties 
equally  imperious,  to  retard,  and  if  possible,  pre- 
vent such  descent:  He  is  to  be  accounted  victorious 
who  effected  his  purpose.  The  British  commander, 
having  failed  to  gain  either  of  hii.  objects,  can  lay 
fio  claim  to  the  honors  of  the  day.  The  battle 
fluctuated,  and  triumph  seemed,  at  different  times 
inclined  to  the  contending  corps.  The  front  of  the 
enemy  was  at  first  forced  back  more  than  a  mile, 
and,  though  they  never  regained  the  ground  thus 
Tost^  their  stand  was  pci^nianent,  and  their  charges 


"4^■ 


res 

do 

of 

coo 

this 


ing 


t54] 


■"i.:v> , 


5flf* 


■if'' 


ichcct^- 
3  Ame- 
iced  of 
officers; 
^vithout 
gonists. 
I  i&  de- 
lO  took 
ivas  en- 
fortune 

ided 

the  2d 
rge,  ha- 
iscence, 
nent  of 
emacia- 
y  horse, 

isiing  oa 

e  affair. 

n  com- 

t  being 

nt,  and 

ipitate 

ractica- 

of  the 

n  army 

duties 

c,  prei 

orious 

lander, 

an  lay 

battle 

t  times 

t  of  the 

a  mile, 

d  thus 

charges 


resolute.      Ami^it  these;  cbavges,  and  near  th6 
close  of  the  contest,  w^djlost  a  fipl4  piece  by  tlie  ftij|, 
of  the  officer  vvho  was  scrying  it  wfth  th(fe  skmi^  ' 
coolness  as  if  he  ha,d4)een  at.a  parad^^of  revi«\iE^Vj 
this  was  lieutenant  Smith  of  ^he  Ti^ht  artillery',  wHo  f 
in  point  of  merit,;  stood  at  the, head  of  his  grade; ' 
The  enemy  havingthalted,^  and  our  troops  beirig_^ 
again  formed  in  batta!^a  front  to  front,  and  the'}^ 
firing  ceased  on  both  sides,  we  resumed  our  posi-  y  ; 
tion  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  the  infantry  Ije-.^ 
ing  much  fatigued,  tjievvljole  were  re-enibaiked,'     / 
artd  proceeded  ddwnlh'e  rivci  without  further  an-^  ^ 
noyance  froin  the  enemy  or  their  gun  boats,  while)  j^^ 
(       tiie  dragoons*  with  five,  pieces  of  light  artillery,i;v   ^ 
marched  down  the  Canada  shore  \yithout  molesta-^* 
tion.    \  ....  ;^r;>:y.  ,4j     ^ 

It  is  due  to  his  rank,  to  his  worth  and  services,^*  V 
that  I  should  make  particular  mention  of  brigadier 
general  Covington,  who  received  a  mortal  wound  v  ^ 
directly  through  thebpdy,  while  animating  his  men ^^ 
and  leading  ihem  to  the  charge.     He  fell  where  1"  ' 
he  fought,  at  the  head  of  his  men,  and  survived  buit4' 
two  days.  '  :y  -rfi',M^W:0-;^':^''^^^ 

The  next  morning  the  flotilla  passed  through  the| ' 
saut  and  joined  that  excellent  officer,  brigadier 
general    Brown,    at   Barnharts,  near   Cornwall, 
where  he  had  been  instructed  to  take  post  and 
wait  my  arrival,  and  where  1  confidently  expected 
toliear  of  major  general  Hampton's  arrival  on  the^v 
opposite  shore.    But  immediattly  after  I  halted,  % 
colonel  Atkinson,  the  inspector  general  of  the  di-^# 
vison  under  major  general  Hampton,  waited  on ,%  v 
me  with  a  letter  from  that  officer,  in  which,  to  myi(c 
unspeakable  mortification  and  surprise,  he  declined  ;;1|  ? 
the  junction  ordered,  and  informed  me  he  was  ]    J 
marching  towards  lake  Ghamplain,  by  ^ay  of  co*   4^  v 
operating  ift  the  proposed  attack  on  Montreal.  \ 

This  letter,  together  with  ajCQpy  of  that  to  w^ici* 


^<\ 


•ao 


[54] 


.  ,1 


",.f 


\{    1.  :^ 


it  i^  an  answer,  were  immediately  submitted  to  a 

eoilQQJit  of  war,  ;4^|npo8ed«pf  my  general  officers, 

^dNE^eolonel  cdliimandillg  the  elite,  the  chief 

Wineer,  and  the  adjutant  >  general,  who  unani*- 

^n^ously  gave  it  as  iheir  opinion,  that  /V  the  attack 

,^bn  Montreal  shduld  be  abandoned  for  the  present 

^season,  l^nd  the  army  then  near  Cornwall  should 

,,  l^i)e  immediately>cros8€d  to  the  Ameicican  shore  for 

\  taking  up  winter  quarters;  and  that  this  place  af- 

'  ^rdedan  eligible  position  for  such  quarters."   a^^, 

0  l|  acquiesced  in  these  opinions,  j^ot  from  the 
fshortness  of  the  stock  of  provaions  (which  had 

'    been  reducedliy  the  acts  of  God)  because  that  of 

\^  our  meat  had  been  increased  ^ve  days,  and  our 

' 'bread  had  been  reduced  only  two  days,  p.nd  be- 

' ,  cause  we  could;,  in  case  of  extremity,  have  lived  on 

i^  -the enemy;  but  because  the  loss  of  the  division  un- 

.  der  major  general  Hampton,  weakened  my  force 

.  ^too  sensibly  to  justify  the  attempt.  In  all  my  mca* 

*  '  sures  and  movements  of  moment,  I  have  taken 
4  the  opinions  of  my  general  officers,  j  which  have 
'^been  in  accord  with  my  own. 

.'*    I  remained  on  the  Canada  shore  until  the  next 
^  day,  without  seeing  or  hearing  from  the  "  power- 
'-  fill  force"  of  the  enemy  in  our  neighborhood,  and 
, '  the  same  day  reached  this  position  with  the  artil- 
'^lery  and  infantry.    The  dragoons  have  been  or- 
dered to  Utica  audits  vicinity,  and  I  expect  are 
^fifty  or  sixty  miles  on  the  march.  • 

You  have  under  cover  a  summary  abstract  of 
.^the  killed  and  wounded  in  the  alfair  of  the  llth 

,  y.  inst.,  which  shall  soon  be  followed  by  a  particular 
^return,  in  which  a  just  regard  will  be  paid  to  indi- 

1  vidual  merits.  The  dead  rest  iii  honor,  and  the 
i  wounded  bled  for  their  country  and  deserve  its 
""'gratitude. 

^'     With  pei'fecfc  resp^t  i  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir, 
k  ypur  obedient  humble  servant, 

J  A.  WILKINSQN. 
The  honorable  John  Armstrong,  secretary  of  war. 


^m: 


\ 


L54] 


*"■** 


tted  to  a 
[  officers, 
the  chief 
o  unanio 
be  attack 
le  present 
11  should 
Bhore  for 
place  af- 

from  the 
hich  had 
se  that  of 

and  our 
,  p.nd  be- 
e  lived  on 
irision  un- 
my  force 

my  mea- 
kve  taken 
lich  have 


the  next 

**  power- 

lood,  and 

the  artil- 

heen  or- 

xpect  are 

• 

bstract  of 
the  nth 

particular 

d  to  indi- 
and  the 

cserve  its 

to  be,  sir, 

<fSON. 

ar. 


October  21st.  Boisterous  weather;  left  Sackett's 
Harbor;  at  night  arrived  off  Grenadier  Island. 
r  October  22d.  Called  for  a  return  of  the  trdops 
on  the  island;  found  a  lairge  body  to  be  still  in'Ihe 
rear  wrecked  or  stranded;  returned  in  qu^  of 
them,  and  to  order  from  the  harbor  a  supply  of 
winter  clothing  and  shoes  for  the  trdbp6  on  the 
island,  who  were  nearly  destitute;  obiWved  at 
night,  on  our  way  up,  many  fires  on  different 
points  of  the  coast;  wind  so  hi^h  could  not  call  at 
them;  reached  the  harbor  at  rrtdnight. 

October  2cJd.  Orders  given  for  the  shipment  of 
the  clothing;  many  stragglers  picked  up  and  em- 
barked for  Crenadier  Island;  col.  Coles  arrived 
v/ith  two  hundred  men  of  the  12th  regiment,  and 
sailed  for  the  same  place;  the  Growler  equipped, 
manned,  furnished  with  a  skipper,  and  sent  to 
Oswego  for  colonels  Randolph  and  Scott  (who 
were  expected  at  that  place)  and  as  many  men  as 
she  could  carry.  We  sailed  for  Grenadier  Island; 
arrived  about  8  o'clock  at  night  off  the  island; 
weather  blustering,  with  frequent  rain.  All  this 
tinrie  the  genir^l's  illness  continued  witliout  abate- 
n^nt.  ■ 

i-    October  24th.     Hard  rains  with  heavy  gales. 
Still  at  anchor  off  the  island.       ^   \^ ;  X  "'^ 

October  25th.  The  general  Fahded;  and  mea- 
sures were  iniuiediately  taken  to  seize  every  pause 
of  the  prevailing  storms  to  slip  the  tlotilla  into 
the  St.  Lawrence  by  small  detachments.  In  these 
deceitful  momentary  calms  we  found  it  impossible 
to  traverse  in  isafety  the  arm  of  the  lake  to  Gravelly 
point,  though  distant  only  nine  miles.  In  the 
several  attempts  made,  many  boats  driven  ashore, 
and  much  provision  and  clothing  lost.  French 
creek,  nearly  opposite  the  point  where  the  enemy 
expected  we  should  land  to  attack  Kingston,  wa$ 


,,,  •■ 


^A 


•'ik 


♦^8 


Ak 


[54] 


fiitde  the  general  rendezvous  of  the  troops,  and 
brig^iergiineral  Brown  ordered  on  to  take  the 
cliief  (§oikn)ancl.  The  expedition  of  the  Growler 
Was  IP  far  successful,  that  on  the  3 1  st  colionel  Ran- 
d|plph,  after  a  perilous  voyage,  reached  Grenadier 
Island  witlii  two  hundred  and  thirty  nfien  of  the 
20th  re^jinient.  On  thcisd  ?^ovember  commo- 
dore ChCuncey,  by  concert,  ^nt^red  the  St.  Law^ 
rence,  f4l  down  nearly  to  French  nireek,  and  took 
a  position  to  cominanti  the  nor^i  and  south  chan- 
nels. In  the  everiin-f^  of  the  1st  November  our 
vigilant  enemy  having  observed,  even  amid  the 
storms,  our  movement  and  positi^gn  at  French 
creek,  attacked  the  detachnient  at  that  place  under 
♦reneral  Brown,  about  sun-set,  with  a  squadron  of 
^.j^  two  brigs  and  two  schooners,  with  many  boats 
7 .  loaded  with  infantry  for  landing,  should  their  can- 
nonademiake  a  suflicient  impression.  Very  soon 
captain  M*Pherson  of  the  light  artilier}'  erected  a 
battery  of  three  18  pounders,  and  returned  their 
'  .  I  fire  with  such  spirit  and  effect  that  they  fell  down 
/,  to  a  harbor  below,  beyonJ  its  range.  Next  mornr 
jng  the  attack  was  renewed  and  repelled,  and  one 
of  the  brigs  was  with  great  difficulty  towed  off  by 

.    the  squadron,  which  put  into  Kingston  chiinnel, 

I     behind  Grand  Island.     We  lost  two  killed  and 

four  wounded      The  enemy  were  supposed  to 

^     have  suffered  severely,  from  the  evident  disabled 

(    state  of  their  brig,  and  the  deliberate  dnd  well  di- 
rected fire  of  the  gallant  captain  M'Pherson. 

November  3d.  The  rear  of  the  army,  with  the 
general  more  and  more  sick,  sailed  for  the  gene- 
ral rendezvous,  where  the  chief  part  arrived  in 
the  evening.  The  general  was  carried  on  shore, 
and  lodged  in  a  ttnt,  his  malady  increasing  in 
violence. 

[^    November  4th.  This  day  was  devoted  to  filial 


> 


'"?:,%'#  :^ 


i'\   '-'T 


I  I 


und 
5  the 
►wler 
Ran- 
adier 
f  the 
nmo- 
Law^ 
took 
;han- 
V  our 
d  the 
rench 
under 
•on  of 
boats 
p  can- 
'  soon 
cted  a, 
i  theiri 
down# 
ornt*/ 
d  onei- 

nnel, 
and>s 
d  to 
ablcd 

ill  dv; 

• 

|h  the 
Igene*' 

;d  in 
^hore, 

ig  in 

final 


E54J 


63 


<!-.v; 


ar  Wnhfcments  for  the  sailing  of  the  flotilla.    Wca- 
thei*  moderatinpj.  ^,:  .^  v 

Novemb^    5ih.  Charming  dajj^.   The  ilotilla>fiOt 
under  way,  and  without  accident  f?) I  (Jown^Anrf 
landed  early  in  the  night  below  Morrisvillc.     Thq 
general  suspecting' he  would  be  followed  by  t)a,c, 
enemy,  as  in  the  morning  hiy  course  had  been/ 
discovered  by  three  of  their  look- out  gun  boats  ^ 
and  a  gig,  and  knowirig  that  two  of  their  armed 
schooners  could  jeopardize  his  n^ovemciit,  gave 
orders  for  the  flotilla  f:o  pass  Prescott^  then  sevea 
miles  below  him,  in  the  course  of  the  night.     But 
some  confusion  occurred  arising  from  the  novelty 
of  the   movement,   and  the  order  was  counter- 
manded. 

November  6thi  This  morning  the  health  of  the 
general  appeared  better;  he  ordered  the  flotilla  to,., 
descend  to  a  point  within  three  miles  of  Prcscott; 
and  the  day  being  fine>  got  into  his  gig.  and  pro- 
ceeded to  reconnoitre  the  place.  In  the  mean 
time,  the  powder  and  fixed  ammunition  were  de- 
barked and  placed  in  cart'?,  to  be  transported  by 
land,  under  cover  of  the  r.ig*  £,  beyond  the  enemy's 
batteries.  As  soon  as  the  gen<iral  returned,  orders 
were  issued  for  the  debarkation  of  every  man  (ex- 
cept so  many  as  were  necessary  to  navigate  the. 
boats)  who  were  directed  to  march,  u^der  cover 
of  the  night,  to  save  useless  exposure  to  the  ene- 
my's cannon,  to  a  bay  two  miles  below  Prescott; 
and  arrangements  were  made  at  the  same  time  for 
tne  passage  of  the  flotilla  by  that  place,  the  super- 
intrndency  of  whicti  devolved  on  brigadier  general 
Brown,  the  general  officer  oi  the  day.  About  8 
o'clock  P.  jVl.,we  had  so  heavy  a  fog,  that  it  was 
believed  we  could  pass  the  British  fortress  unob;,. 
served,  and  ordei^s  werfe  accordingly  given  for  the* 
army,tq  marcb  aid  the  '^otifla  to  get  under  way. 


\   ,-. 


1h 


"^^ 


w 


f 

4 


♦64 


# 


[54j 


/  f^/ihc  poncral  in  his  gig  procecc'ed  ahead,  followeJ 
i^y^llpit  passage  boat  and  fe      y;  but  a  suddert 

*  tnange  of  the  atmosphere  exposed  his  passage 
boat' to  the  garrison  of  the  enemy,  and  near  fifty 

'  .twenty-four  pound  shot  were  fired  at  her  without 

effect,  while  the  column  on  land,  discovered  by 

the  gleam'  of  their  arins,  were  assailed  with  shot 

'^  and  sheHs  without  injury^     General  Brown,  on 

hearitig  the  firing,  iudiciously  halted  tlie  flotilla 

..  until  the  moon  had  set,  when  it  got  in  motion, 

3  but  was  perceived  by  the  enemyj  who  opened 

■'•'upon  it,  aOd  continued  their  fire  from  frciOt  to 

f  rear  for  the  space  of  three  hours;  and  yet,  out  of 

^•^  more  than  three  luind red  boats,  not  one  was  touch- 

^  ed,  and  only  one  man  was  killed,  and  two  were 

wounded;  and  hcfoi*  10  next  morning  the  whole 

of  the  flotilla  (except  two  vessels)   reached  the 

'  place  of  rendezvous.   About  noon  this  day  colonel 

King,   adjutant  general  of  the  army   of  general 

Hanpton,  arrived  and  waited  an  the  commander 

in  chief  whom  he  informed,  that  he  had  been  to 

Sackett's  Harbor  with  a  despatch  from  general 

•  Hampton  to  the  secretary  of  war;  that  he  had  no 
communication,  written  or  verbal,  from  major  ge- 
tieral  Hampton  to  him  (the  commander  in  chief), 

*    but  that  not  finding  the  secretary  of  war  at  Sack- 

vett*s  Harbor,  he  had  thought  proper,  on  his  return, 

tl  t^  call  for  any  communication  hp  (general  Wil- 

'  kinson)  might  have  to  make  to  general  Hampton. 

'^  The  genera!  had  intended,  in  the  course  of  this 

ir^ay,  to  send  an  express  to  general  Hampton,  with 

an  order  to  him  to  form  a  junction  of  his  division 

with  the  cbrps  descending  the'  St.  Lawrence,  and 

availed  hin\self  of  the  opportunity  presented  by 

^^^colonel  King  to  send  the  orocr. 

November  7th.  The  general  having  been  expo- 
'  sed  to  the  open  air  all  last  night,  in  consequence 


.*   >  > 


oxveJ 
lddel^ 
ssagc 
fifty 
ilhout 
:d  by 
I  shot 
^n,  on 
flotilla 
lotiorit 
>pened 
iint  to 
out  of 
touch- 
0  were 
whole 
led  the 
colonel 
general 
nander 
>cen  to 
general 
h£id  no 
jor  ge- 
chief), 
t  Sack- 
return, 
al  Wil. 
mpton. 
of  this 
n,  with 
ivision 
:e,  and 
ited  by 

expo- 
•quence 


pi  ces  of  field  artil- 

^  that  the  coast  be- 

.lusquetry  and  artil- 


[54]         •    -^m-        6Sf 

ft-.' 

found  himself  ill.*  In  passing  Prescott,  two  of  our 
largest  vessels,  loaded  with  provisions,  artillery,  and 
ordnance  stores,  either  throt  •  h  cowardice  or 
treachery,  had  been  run  'nto  liie  river  near  Og- 
densburg,  and  opposite  Frcsc  tt.  The  enemy  kept 
up  so  constant  a  caunon?"'  ^  on  th*»in,  that  we  found 
it  difiicult,  and  lost  iia!  ,  lo  get  them  out 

We  perceived  the  mil  ria  us  at  Johnson,  di- 

rectly opposite  us,  an 
lery  in  motion.  Undei 
low  was  lined  with  posts  v 
lery  at  every  narrow  pass  of  the  river,  colonel  Ma- 
comb was  detached  about  one  o'clock  with  the 
elite  corps  of  about  1200  men,  to  remove  these 
obstructions,  and  the  general  got  under  way  about 
half  past  three  o'clock.  Four  or  five  miles  below 
we  entered  the  first  rapids  of  the  river,  and  soon 
after  passing  them,  two  pieces  of  light  artillery, 
which  had  not  been  observed  by  colonel  Macomb, 
opened  a  sharp  fire  upon  the  general's  passage  boat, 
but  without  any  further  effect  than  cutting  away 
some  of  the  rigging.  Lieutenant  colonel  Eustis, 
with  a  part  of  our  light  gun  barges,  came  within 
shot  of  the  pieces  of  the  enemy,  and  a  cannonade 
ensued,  without  injury  on  either  side.  In  the 
mean  time  major  Forsythe,  who  was  in  the  rear 
of  the  elite  of  col  mel  Macomb,  landed  his  rifle- 
men, advanced  upon  the  enemy's  guns,  and  had 
his  fire  drawn  by  a  couple  of  vidcttes,  posted  in  his 
route,  on  which  their  pieces  were  precipitately  car- 
ried ofE  The  general  came  to  at  dusk  about  six 
miles  below  the  town  of  Hamilton,  where  lie  re- 
ceived a  report  from  colonel  Macomb,  who  had 
routed  a  party  at  a  block- house  about  two  miles 
below,  and  captured  an  officer. 

November  8th.  This  morning  the  ilotilla  fell 
down  to  a  contraction  of  the  river  at  a  point  calU 

*0 


'■^"**i 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


4^ 


^ 


1.0 


1.1 


1^12 


£f  BA   I 


25 
2.2 


^  -^  lllll£ 


1 

l.25|||,.4|||,.6 

•« 

6"     

► 

V] 


yl 


^ 


-^ 


?> 


^;; 


«^  > 


^ 


y 


PhotDgraphic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


4^  ^ 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14S80 

(716)  872-4503 


-<},'■ 


) 

_,, 

:':■"   -■:M\'^^ 

.,*.-,.,     .......... 

-  ■■'■"'■"A.     ?■   ■    .-'                     ;?■{#/. 

'''   ' 

'  P 

'      ■           .                                                              ■              '-.'■''-'!■    J- 

"_..'    .               '''."^■'■' '            '  y^' 

\;-.:^,\ :  .^:%. 

:'  - 

_ 

';>■ 

■     \:'-^    •           '   ■       ,'"     ^  :#' 

'■■     '\  '    ' 

J  ■'     -■-■:■-.- 

'■y     .-..  '■' 

..''': 

*:-''■■-■■    ; 

■ 

■  ,f\;^  _ 

- 

! 

r**^; 


'00 


[3<1 


ei^  'S  White  hpu$e/'  wem  the  4rag99>M^  wife 
. .  ^  ..^  bp  crbfscdf.  J%i^dier  iPfiieM 

Id- tiSr  laiiii  eoldnel  M&- 

[b^l#K«#igl^  a^flr^ke^  Coininaiid; 

«t|y|^t^r^|)•p^llff  j|b6ut  noon 

th^'49s|r  ^iiw  «(^eM^0ilB^i((^' tiai  -ip^p  armed  scboo* 

iOpO/ or  li^  jnnipr  bad  desGende^^  t^^ 
l«T(#  |||piR|^j^iig9ton  and  lan^ec^atP^^bt^  tni|k  th^y 
IliadliptiSe^illely  sent  a  jflag  across  the  rh^  to  O^- 
;  dinisbtite  and  (^piaiided  tnp  detivery,  of  all  public 
pro^i^lMl)^ 
'  tovrn.  :^o$  long  tttuk,  £3b^atfalii  was^  recet^ed 
tt^  the  eneoiy  had  re  ^hl^^tdt  at  ^Pi^soMl  in 
*"-  ihlir  ti^iteauXy  and  were  'f6^ii^d||ia  with  seven 
^^■■gu&iw>at9.-r       ■-';>N. 

November  9lh.  This  mortoiijg  very  e|^ly  the 
enemy  tniinaced  pur  rear,imd§s)i^tfKirittMh  «6^^ 
I  plice  between  our  riflemeaana|^  |)t&|ri0f  their  ini- 
r  litia  ttad  Inciians,  ki  which  w&  had  ipe  mai»%I^ 
'i  edana  the  enemy  wett  driven  baok.  The  cayahy, 
f  with  Cbur  pieces  of  light  artil]^ty»  under  thi  cqid* 
I  mand  of  captain  M'Pl}pfon,^irere  attaicliedtathe 
|>  commandof  brigaclier  jB^neiiiltrown,  and  be  was 
If  orderedto  niarchio  c^^  the  cipas^  below  us  as  far 
as  a  point  nekt  the  bead  of  th^  <^  longue  b^.^ 
ISi:  rapidity^  of  jl^cuntiit  ob|i|ed(i2i^ 
flotilla  several  hoaii,^;ena3i|le  ;g|o^»^^|^^  t6 
make  good  his  marcb^a^me  io  ^ieCo!Cl|A  n^bvcr 
inept.  During  this  period  the^«0em3^  |l%eiitly 
thl^tened  our  rear,  but  iievdr1ncyk:||^^^ 
tioff  1;o  mi^  av  Serious  a^aet^^ri^^out  three 
^(^^ck^  P*  M.  th&il^llifk  flp^ 
to,  aboji*  five  o^c)qc%  at  ^^^i(3iw'^om  baving 
Wiedneireleifi^  we 

encamped  for  the  iiighl^v 


■m 


%) 


m 


'■*■■  ■ 
^  ■ 


-*■ 


,^:. -A' .,>.-* 


-Sfr. 


Brown 

Knand; 
erpide-' 
tiioon 
sdioo* 

itwi  lit 


eceiVed 
icot£  in 
[I  seven 

'ly  the 
shlook 
leir  mi- 

avalry, 

Itptbe 
Wl^s 
saafiir 

xekbvcr 
Itciehtiy 
linten- 
three 
lleiime 
baidng 
idrewe 


^  Noyeml?cr  lOth.  This  mornir^  the 
in:der  wasi|88ueBt  ,        ;; 


«r* 


■'^v 


.••.:f 


'i«S'jll 


i  j^l  Morning  genenil  orders 

*'  G^heridl  Bh>#h  ivftt  prtJsate^  Wtflaai  "''^"^^ 
the  19'pb^  yestbnfay  niider  lufeomipMift 
Ing  tWo  jiltfces  of  artil!<ay  aiAf  ttie^  ' 
wbb  With  aft  the  w^  tneiibf  the  c^ 
dDBj^pt  ii  ^flicle^  ixumber  to  navigate  thb^lMi^* 
SLF^&mittfi  mdetiH  orders  bf  br&adier#hi^ 

the  >liifet^  of  th^  meif  in  pm\n%  thetlodiUe  saut; 

.  ^$A  as^bis  ra{ud1is  Ibipai^  ^jv^^erm^ -^  {{^e- 

ral  carntslly  lequcats  tSb  cbtfimindi^  crffi£iep#  of 

ri^ments  abd  <iQipa  lb  examine  the^oala  andisee 

''il^ik  pibp^y  fitted^  ib  orc^  to  avbifl^aeeident^ 

,^^  ^i^h  as  i^sibliB.  Brighter  geiieral  B^d  Will 

t^li^the  bec^^       precaution  to  prevent  iheibe* 

ji^l^hb^aA^obcnii^t^         making  an  advan- 

^^i^tii  lim&yMd  if  attaok(^  is  tb  turb.atk>ut 

r-^^M^^It^p^  boats  arc  to nesuine  the^a- 

"i^tton  Is^jgned  thcim  in  the  original  order  respecting 

\  ihe  ;fioiiu|^  and  for  this  the  commanding  officers 

.  pf  r^tbeb^  and  bragades  will  be  held  responsible. 

*  ,Tbi?  ^bvfiinent  bfyeiterdi^^^i^     a  reproach  to 

i  ^  mif^^  to  to^dh^  at 

mrDhl^fei  neai^  Crab  Mnd,  and  two  gunil  from 

"  tthc!  fjpoi^  \^111  N  i^e'  signal*  fbr  landing.    Incase 

ofa^%tta«i:  |h  f^ltft'  beyond  all  ekpectatiiin;  the 

\cbi^  t^ilei^  Hr^d^  Boyd  and  Biown 

are  toVft#bberatie  Witfc  each  other  promdyiyjind 

l^ei  a^q^  tife  gb^  day  will 

^tifi^  iticbf  l&i^  fiee  that  the  ftotilla  p^  bf  and 

iidii^esihthep^  arr^  any 

bi^Svhb  p^bktf^  ib  dci^iate  thd^fi'bnif.'' 

m 


t:.-'   \ 


f  ■ 


*i* 


m 


■'.* . 


'it. 


;  k;' 


iio^  waff  engaged  by  a  party  of  ^  ent^my  near 
1^  bUipk^hi^Ufe  oti  t)ie  saujiy  erected  to  harrasd'  our 
j|p(i|)l|^^  ii|:  its  ^0isi^U  Abqut  ihe  luuarie  titne/j^e 
e^mV^^eire  ob£rved  ,to  be  advani^ing  on  buivreari 
""^t&Si^ym^ #in  boats  boveit|>8ight»^ ap~ 
iil»id.j#  flotilla  then  at  shore  and  bi^gan  to 
'  JK  Thi^  siendp  structiire  of  oiit*.gun 
te  it  iinpossihl^  for  them  to  resist  the, 
rrfour  poQOder  ^f  the  enemy's  galley;' 
_  the  general  to  ord^r  twoj  e^te^o 
{N^lihd^rs'to^be  run  on  shore  and  formed  iii  hfAk^r 
ryi^^jsingle,  shot,  from  which  gave  such  an  alarin 
to  |i|  flip's  vessels,  that  they  retired  up  ilie  i^k- 
veiy|<^||m{M|nied;l|y.  their  tropps*  Bujt  these,  sli^t 
o^^ijt^ihpi \9sk  far >vvastc<|fh|bj^y'thi^^  0^ 
vrcfip  afrii^  tQ  eiite^  the  89ut^i(a  conUnviec| "nipidv 

of  l^tmiks)  wilkUii^  ftpt^;  vre  tl^erefore  fc^i^ 
do'^n  #thm  two  or  ^ree  qiiles  o|  the  hcad;of  it 
an^'ca^e  to  for  the  night.    JBy  this^  time  tH^  ge^i^ 
ner^^had  fx^cdine  so  extireiii^y  iU#,to  be  unlible 
to  lit^up  and  was  confine(itb  his  bed  in  a  ^i^ll, 
birm|^n|kr  the  quarter  de(^  of liis^sstagQ >bo»tr^ 
I^e^bcr  iUh^   Having  heai;d  the  fi^       (&' 
the  Cannon  yestei^aybetw^|^n<pral  BroWi.  ^ai 
the  enemy,  beingstill  tiii^||{|f^d,  of  the  result,  it 
became  neoessiary  thnt  we,  shctidd  hear  from;  b 
before  we  committed  ourselves  to  the  saut^  whi^  ' 
allo^$  po  retr(^^,  no  laii()lng,  no  turping  to  the 
right  or  left  but  whe^^  the^  in^tiiosity  of  the 
eurre||t^  iniipels.    Abou^  10  or  .^  1 '  d'cIocSc^i^;^^  Si. 
the  Commander  in  ^hi^  rec^^*^!  a^^  ge- 

ner4  BroWn  that  he  had  foni^  tbe^nemy  to  rer 
tire'lx^re  hi|p,  a^bad amv?ed  n^ 
thc;  ^  s^ut:''    Orders  were  immectiately  givcii  for 
th%|i$ivra  to  prepare  tq  saiI,and|prgenerM:Boy% 
»nd Jbis  con^maiid  to  ^cooq^iipicevjiheir  march; '  ^ 
whflf^  (|(||p  ItJng  1^  gi»l  boats, 


i'f-f^vv^;^-1^f>-  • 


.'/ 


1540 


«►• 


■■C'p' 


■f4 


of 

for 

Its, 


an^^ acrcpQi^t  was  bf ou^ht  to  the  commander ^^n 
chiicf  that  Urn  enem;^  was  ^dy^ncing  in  eolCli^ 
on  this  he  ordered  gei^rtil  Boyd  to  attack  them» 
and  t^ellotilTa  «4s  directed  not  to  leavt  the'ih^. 
But  t^e  import '  was  lOon  after  e^ntradicted.'  A 
varietj^^^f  reports  respecting  their  moveiiiefiW  ai  ^ 
codiiter^  movements  wrere^  alter  this,  succe^iv^ 
brotighito  the  general^  which  impressed  hiift^^wii 
the  c^l^^ridion  that  the  enemy  had  determined  t6^ ; 
attack  his  rear  as  sOoii  as^  the  flotiUa  should  pui  off 
and  the  t<s>ops  commence  their  march;  he  resolved 
to  f^i!S^tet]&em.  He  therefore  sent  colonel  Swift 
of  t|i€  enjj^neers  with  instructions  to  brqB;adiei^ge-, 
<|l  noripU^d/Who  had  been  directed  by  th^  ocddr  of ^ 
thji^ltreci^  command  of  the  det^ch- 

roent*on  shore,  to  forn^  that  detaohment  into  tKree% 
colum%  to  advisee  i^bn  the  enemy,  to  en^vor  ' 
to  Wtnlolt  th^  ind  tertake  their  artillery,  ^oon 
alter  tbiitheiM:tioncommen(^  and  for  the  iilum-| 
b^ir^i^aged  was  extremely^  ^^rm  and^bloody  for 
upwJM^ds  of  two  hout^,  dormg  Vi^hioh  time,  in  open 
sj^O  antd  fur  combat^  the  raw    !UndiscipIi^e<t- ' 
tro^tHf^he  Untied  States  braved,  and  frequently^ 
drove  the  be^t  troop^of  the  British  army,  ^  Oe-. 
sdripti^s^^of  battles  have  become  too  subservient  to 
tlj^e  ^tific^ion  of  personal  vaiilty  and  tfa^  accfiii- 
siti^ll  of  pOputar  a|4>lause:  yet  every  man-  who  has 
taki^^partm  a  great  action  must  know  that  there 
isl  hothir^  inbre  difficult  thaii  to  do  justice  to  the 
mei^rtsot  a1}attlein  ^11  its  parts^  \vhere  it  is  hard  to^' 
dnd  two  officers,  uhlbsi^fiphtingv side  by  side,  who 
agree  iti  opijiion  as.  to  the  propriety  of  measures 
and  !the  Gohduct  <|f  men.    The  fortunes  of  this 
dliy  vvere  various^   sometiines  one  line,  spipne- 
times  the  other  ^vJng    way.     tfnfoi^tunftjpy, 
duri%the  shiftings  of  th^  action,  by  Jled^h  of 

ifewfeignt  jfflj^^  iqif  mm^ 


>^ 


*w 


-m] 


^v. 


jit,    li 


■# 


■i*". 


■'>*. 


PlUlise^the  «nemy  got  posses$idri'#A  iieM  piece, 
^MfitapXif  %\ifsy  (^tinned.  It  is  diMeult  to 
i|^lip%  of  the  Diis^ise  numbers  engaged  on  ^ther 
siti^  bffsanioeTlhe  detaettndent  ufider  genei^l  Boyd 
eon^^d  of  An  'Indi^iinite  nomber  of  his  (ywn,  Co- 
%igtonV  and  Sw^artwout^  brigftd^es,  orderdd  from 
|pb^rd  the  boats  td  Itgh^^  ^em,  and  save  the 
Mzard  of  the  ttien^  Mes  in  descending  the  saut. 
if(i|tber  Gdvington  nOr^wartwmifc  were  <>bl|ged  to 
havis  take  part  in  the  action,  with  tins  detachnient; 
yet  they  both  entered  the  M^i  talcing  Gommand  of 
that  part  of  it  which  belonged  to  their  respective 
brigades,  where  they  exhibited  the  sainecoun^g^ous 
^jm^^  Virhicb  distif^uiahed  general  doydl  on,the 
flbld^  and  to  the  great  loss  of  the  servtcj^  bli^ier 
general  Covingt^receiv^  a  mortal  worun<l%hen 
^leopragit^  and  leading  cfi  b:s  detachment.  %e 
iitittlbers  engaged  on  our  iiide  loilld  notbayerex- 
ceeded  sixteen  or  sjpventiien  {idndred  men,  while 
thd9^  of  the  enen^i^e  reckoned^  by  specta^Qjif ,  at 
#|!moneto  two  ihousimd;  but  'tis  probate  did 
ii)ol  exceed  1,500,  consisdng,  a^. we- are  informed, 
q¥  detachments  of  the^4^h,  84th,  and  104thy  |he 
voltigt'n^,  aniipleflie^ki^  regiment^. 

Witbfe'W^peel  to  tne  dfiturage  di^ayedlb^  bur 
iifficers»#  #ould  b^  usoess  to  ent<^  into^iftls, 
since  th^  all  mrtmfested  in  their  respective  stations 
(eqepl  intrepidity.  The  names  ol  th6  mefitorious 
dead  and  #oimdc;d  will  be  reeordei^  in  aii(i|pp0r 
f4ao^    '3^^  comriiiOn  consent 

«ybout  4  ^^^1(^  1\^  M.,^$iu  i^Miedm 

%iltaltib  4ti  front  c^f  #ie  enem^r  wba^er^  s^ 
]|^e,  aiM  they  8epiu|i^4 1^^^<^ 

d^mMim^^m^^^  1^        being  m^^at^ 

mj0§t^M^y^  ccMdegp  mp^  eonvi^i^iil^ 
^h^i^a||^<^baH^,a[^  the  dti^ootiul  #t^ 
tlleftrtil!ei)r i^uId|bc«edJ^and*  The^M^ka- 


-jp  f*. 


euit  to 
^ther 
1  Boyd 
m,  Co- 
;^  from 
ive  the 
t0  saut. 
l|g;edto 
^tmvent; 
niMndof 
Ijpective 
riigeous 
[  oijuthe 

(Jwhen 
t.  *be 
lavelex- 


it<uf»at 
^dld 
fornlewil, 
Uh,ihe 


our 

9. 


st^ibns 
Itbrious 

SQlillit 


m 


71* 


tlbfi  tdok  pl9ce  Witlidtit  the  smallest  mok 
tcom  the  enemy,  atid  the  ffoiflla  made  a  mtoor 
near  the  hillad  of  the  saut,  on  the  opposite  fhore. 
Theviewsof  the  American  and  Britlsncomminders  | 
wef e,  on  this  occasion  precisely  opposed.  The  fir^t 
beitii^  bound  by  the  instructions  of  his  governmeiit, 
and  the  most  solemn  obligations  of  dut^tO{Mreci|)ii,' 
tatc  his  descent  ofthe  St.  Lawrence  by  every  prftiatK 
cable  means,  and  the  last  by  duties  equally  imperious 
t6  retard, Utid  if  possible  to  prevent  such  descent 
If  then  he  fbbnd  himtelf  vietorious  on  this  day,  it 
was  certainly  in  his  power  to  hkve  effected  the  one 
oi*  t;hb  other  object;  and  as  he  made  no  attempt  to 
e0eict  either,  it  follows  incontestibly  that  he  had  no 
fah^j^duhd  on  ^hich  to  claim  a  vittory.  '- 

November  12th.  The  flotilla  sailed  edrly  this 
mornil^,  and  passed  down  the  saut  withcnol  dis^. 
covering^  either  the  boati(  or  troops  of  *  th^cnc"; 
ihy,  andumvedvin  the  course  of  thefbrenoonr  at 
Barnhafts,  where  thboommfinding  general  re^ 
sceived  a  letter  froni?  mtyoi' general  Hampton^  by 
the  hands  of  colonel  Atkinson,  his  inspecUip  geiie- 
ralj  which  blasted  aH  his  hopes  and  destroyed  ev^' 
ry  pro^ctof  the  campaign.    A counoii  of  wiur 
vir^s  ealled  '.upon  the  receipt  of  t^it  eommilteica*  t 
l^n^^hicb  was  submitted  lo  their  eonsideration^E 
whereupon  the  council  determiM  thai  thevesfit-t 
dt^t  ^f,  Irtl^jor  general  Hampton,  iii^ refusing  to  joib 
hSfdIviioii  to  the  troops  descending^^ihe  St.  liftW- 
reo^W'i^ym  attiu^^gainst  vMontreal,  render-^ 
ettle%edienttd(  leave  the^^  St.  la^-'^ 

"rtiim,  n^  0  removethe  troopa  to  French  MHJs, 
^Sttlnibn  river;  and  t)rt  die  13th  of  November 
t!^$  reeommendiitiDh  wa&  accordiQ^y  firried  int<> 
efl^'^B^Ie  tSni^  hav^ng^^eea  gtf«l»tf^life^eiieiiiy 
t6  have  tnt^  a-^9ec6nd  4«tion,  if thi^a^^ 


.run  the  hasHira.  -%^ -^  -^^^.m^^'-'''^'^^-  -^^^^ 


.■X(i 


■./•  jfe  I'-f  ^■lA^i-!  Vm-:- 


.th^r 


t;4 


.* 


t 


•n 


[54] 


.  K 


ip^ltta  of  ft  letter  from  major  4;d^l  Wilkihid^lro^^he 
mntkry  of  war»diU4  French  llillt,  Nov.  17, 18^3. 

After  wha^t  bat  passed  bet>vc;en  ub,  you  can 


^^  tion  ^troctecl,  would  have.  b«^n  oufs  ki  cig^  or 
t^  dftys.  B<]t  be  cbope  to  recede,  i^  order .  to  co- 
q^cntte,  i^nd  ipy  dawning  bopes,  aiid  th^bopes  and 
bonor  of  tbe^airnay  were  blasted." 


'.'M 


^km€ttt<kn  the  general  order  of  getieral  Wilkilbsoi^  of 

November  13.  > 

^*Phe*r©op8  are  tb  embai^k  without  loss  of  time; 
y«l;  «f^  not  to  be  burridcFilt  lekving  the  Canamaii 
shoreifromivbence  theconiinander  in  chief  is  com- 
pelled td  ftiire  bylshe  extraordinary,  unieXiii^Spfed, 
anc^  U  appeili^iuntmiiintlible  Cii^nduct  of  majot 
giiilei^/^mIll|H^i1^^'^  join  this  arnt^y 

wffekta  <iivi8ib#of  4;06O^inen  under  bis  c'omjjlij^fiu, 
ag^ablyto^^itir^'  orders  from  the  dommanue^ 
in\!^^a(lid  is  he  ba^  been  assured  by  the  sbcfcta- 
ry  >of  wa«^  of  ex^icit  instructions  frbih  the  'witr  dc^ 
pmrtment."'^''  '   ^•■-    ••-■        r^:- •-••■•-      v     ■'■'"" 

i<^%u»  dq[w*W^i*  a  lai|^  portii^'^f  lJi|Mp* 
n^d  foireei  «bt^(£<miinahder  th  chief  teJW 
bo(Mbfi4is«^ofitp^lotb^^ 

U«M^of4>HK«#lfi%^  aiif  not^bieardthe  #  '    ' 
oxc^l«f«k  ^f4t]^^iVaim^  b^  an  ungual'  i 

^oMmmsStii^  oh  MiiiHreaL  ^1^^#  iM^ 
llilMity|^^*it«is:ribt:*ibi(^  ;  t  """'*"':':" 

^■,*rV.>J-  «.Y  .-«'¥■'■-■•-- ■-^nril^'^'--A-,     ■•■■■■'        " '-'     %. 


fr-iti  J'(7  *'    •^jt  *'■••' 


^/*  »;-i 


> 


-fcrf:.'- 


933. 

\u  can 
|cin  at 

I  iwic- 

,to  co- 
)e8  and 


iosoifof 

nawan 
is  coiri- 

r 


ari)(iy 


.'!.*> 


ifejcWti- 


:i»'.f -, ,  -  *  '•• 


isi^es 


^_^_ J0^i 


;4.  .1 


I  ffljiMt  lit  €iUnl^ 
ilKl^i^  #  j^  tdtl^  toirtE  obinni 

<;(»iinig^Mpd^|^  recruits  lybd  biitftef^t 

aiwli9^iilM$lf^|k^o&,and  tMltr^d 

)»iiklAmt^tkp^^^  l(^€MentiflHy  ikceisiirjKto 
r^4&  aptdicr.  They  ktttd,  Me^,  b«en 
^^  ^,^  ^  J^9Mt  eW]iili0fl4^but  a  spirit  of  «i^«i(t]i- 
jia^oii^!fvlt8^^ra^ii.|o  their  ▼iewa.'  d|i  1%  |gp, 
<Mert#^  iisiied  for.|lk  w«hol«  amy,  eycijit  a 
fijipdroihiof  hop^  iNWt}ie  arttUery^i  to  emt^i^^jti 

Jit  piMrpg,  «nd  fli^ 
j4:^mm4  at  (^i|^^atldto*doeli«l\i^t) 

llil^^  morrtibg^  pip^ee^  dtwn  the  MtCNls 
fipi  Cl^aa(^tain|  luiMi  Bf^p^mpl^ 
^Tl^Si'^  four  iwl0b«^wJief«^e^Jkndedr««iid  i^ 
""^  **^  ,m«|^^  to  Q^tpwn.  mTM  Hgbtisd^, 
*  *  l^he  otber  itroppa  som^muN,  mr- 
_  ^  [^atQdagoariof  tiie6||il^aeil|p1: 
WeTcmaliipd  at  Odletowltr:  rntii  tjie  mid- 

^'  oi^lil  d*3f,  dwing  w^h*^  Mm9  » 11^ 
me  fljla^  9f  t^^liiiaiy:  ^mkdk' 

MGk  the  aa^' (G^t^  Ir^^ 

t^banmU^  ChMM^aihe  2Ut^^^ 


■«>,,.-; 


mita  ihe  necessaries^  much  less  the  conveniences 


^■f- 


ff 


{ 


^  wt  lime  mimim  m  ^m^  ixMtfo 

.„ .  J  dl^ionrifited  thit^^  it  '^uh  a  ii9e}Mi^ti^n^' 
c^V y  lafcHfieis  of  Ik^h  jpubrtc  ftiftf  pHhrate  m^M- 
tvt'  'hie  kt-mV^ltmiilnci  ^t  Oiilaugay  twlxiiy  i&x 

'^pktt^^  the  i^iieJEDy'ft  0#O«^ryi  'Fhe  %igbi^g^ 
'ixloWcd  ll#tote^?4>f HNf  €ftata^|^^ii^to 
^  8§e«Ni  the  ^iiiiUttQe  t#ld  iiiiledlc^  (S^ 

li  liaim^iredi^  ;#^     dliei  td  both  ttii<<|«^ 
for  llkh*^^  (INfci^y  cottdilfet,  patHUJ^e, 

""  '^     Oi]s,lKd  1^  remained  liMUftf^y  cort^Hd. 

i  sit  i^m  ai^ti^r  iw^«^ 


//;: 


\iywK 

HllttK- 

fkiftt 


N^« 


CW 


75* 


-ifho  koei^r  peching  of  ttie  ^tfuntrj^^  )?iv%  p|^ 

4\my  bad  Jed  JitinKIa  thick  eedar  g^mft'pft^ 

i^f^be bai^Qif. the pivaraiid  ioini^MllelJr  9fi&' 

"inte  the  enemy's  |)p«tydni  andkntiw  noVhoyr^ix* 

IrioatiB  mV  In6re<^Me  av  it  niay  aupei 

liarnDton  i]ai)^^     nearly  one  twi  ol 

>^n4  llifiMu^iM  Jk<ooM,  tf)  the^uudai) 

iaaQ|r^«^Of99i4«pMte^  thc^ 

Hf^imi  a^Mainted  with ihp^ountrjri  and  fifiv 

^lioiefofiB^tenttd  dMTei  such  an  ei(DciH|ip%^'^\^^ 

thii  s«i)njb|^fiie  g^itd  Hampt(Hl>tola^  hid  a 

man*!  by  tSe  name  of  Smith,  who Jiad  a.  pcffect 

knowJi^dge  of^coufiitfy,  and.whMyb^iMfomHf  d 

1^:  8etidi%e,  but'  wh»h  he  jnq|slQCM»  ^t^,  o^^^ 

iK^t  «C  the  expedlMon  was  the  coniaq^ei||^  of 

<W»'>l^ft^*  ^  the;>ttajor,  gieneral.  J^bout , |wo 

b^loOky  wh^e  receiving;  an  ok^er  in^ 

JCiiia,  a^yntfMit  genera),  upon  d]|^  0|p^f||  sufe  of 

the  niF^|it6  marcbback  fu^r  miles iMp^tne^^ 

vimioA  jOtRthe.!^  bng^icf  the  ti^emy  m<ide  a 

furig^  Attack  p^  tfie  eolMmn  j^,.a  greifil  disctiai^ge 

sMm^^r  accompanied.by'lbl?  il^!?  >^  .%^- 

%a|i8!^o  tfnforlunatdy,  the  vr^i^  ^^wtrej^*  ^uras 

hc^il^y  #^eb>  fqra  short. :tim?w5i4^ 
hmmfac,  r<SNnaiio#%ii^  and  tl||b  le^^^i^ 
p^  i^tnipton  a  it^ekiy^t  a  m^f^e^lj^ 

fee^i||g,^iteHi^  tbM  ,h^^%a^^ 


(.. 


t''--\     tf. 


^ 


m 


caiMjBi-«htlliti)€ 


-,- offlmd  f  ttmtx,  Mid  lliiil%9i 
when  %  monq^otUpifco^ 

irUti'tpe  fiifj^lbnaade  ht-SOO  men.'*  I'he  wound ^ 
ed  had  prtV^OMf^been  5^nVeyed  pcipii  on  mlti, 
wfiklii  inadf j|»  mooym)  of  ^  ^9inf!^  to  ttut  lidd 
a^|uCd)ri|iX!eMary  for  ^^.t^  l^oltolioa.    An  •!• 
tefD|l|^  )RrB«1k:cor4ingly  iiMiiSljs,  diid  »  %«|Qg  4^id|po 
00|klin  constructed  of  old  logs  fcjU^d'on^e^iUMgiii 
of  tie  riv^^^  The  enemy  difcovei^og  our  ditpusit 
tiQD>  comnnenoed  |  fixing  from^  jthe^ppoiHe  iiidcw 
aipViUcd  •ever^f  while  crosuj^g    Miijop  ^mpUing*' 
w|^  »IW)Ut  f  ^uocihpd  menj^fe^ed  a  )^in(^  ai^ 
joined  the  mam  body.    l%c  irffilikiiraer  01  mgr 
foi^pe>  exli^udtea  by  tpc^  cstcesfliAre  ^iexertiont  <^  tmr 
pr^tdjl  night,  ;a.nd  wcar|;  with  the  fatigMct;  tjrf 
th^^(|»y,  n^  having  had  a^m^oment  either  for  r<pK> 
or^refreshment^  i^ere  coiApelled  to  endure  th^  jfd-. 
vail^h  oL^^p  another  nig|it.    Wc  rettrediW^i  or. 
tbm  igKa  f^i^d  took  a  p^fution.;    At  ahoat  l^ 
oVp^J^  Jsfic^  map  up  and  made  an  atta#k 
upon  m,  but  w^  so^n  rooted     Tbemen  •tlhii 
time  were  j||)rmed  and  lying  o^  the  grQiind>.|Ni|!)^^ 
wmto  pc^i|v  in  c^  of  an9%i;k>  iMid  «fefie.(9rTv 
dciM  to  iNndmd  immediately  ffige»vieia^^i|iqc^aii^ 
fuid  vmiin  under  them  the  re^ic^,  (rf  thei»igji^.«* 
A%ircfiwlte|y  lleaiy  raimireveiired  t||P  Afiiplajtli 

{^Jrom  the  fortiier,  Wtroqai.li , 

;>iitpf  ill,  but  In  CjMe  o^ jk  rpjpotmnMt  a^acli^ 
j;ebiy<meti|2  thie  wi^ii^oi^fiQ^^^  1^^ 
^haiieed  sev^  jkime^  and  as  ofi^jieiv  pilt 


■V;\  if'lil^.  •"-«"S7S'«»l^Sw»^ 


^^i^*^* 


"  ■»     ■ 


da, 


7#v 


'■Hill. 


.'tt-.V/^t,^ 


aplcio  eocMuer  imt^mwamlioti  ta  ^ftipr 
Wit  nol  irt  the  powtr  of  ibe^aflkeri  td;kc^ 
ftwd«Bp;  Itw»toiithe\iiiarriiiiyof^ifMit 
thftl^\the  geribral  expifesM  hit  mppriliii^' 
the  fint  briilik,  and  iuide  the  deet|uni4^^i 
quoted^  The  next  moiling  we  cit«(te4  Ilk 
and  joined  iDeneral  Hampton;  on  thi?  9Blk  tU^ 
my  rK^ated  four  mllesy  ftQd  Of»the  flfHb  itiB<^J^l[# 
nuireftd  hiiitk  tk>  ChaUugay.  The  troops  $^ihtt 
tii»erjOf  the  atticli^  vf^re  not  in  i^' Viioatil^^lEi 
dure^fuiiliei*  fatigue;  and^il  is  an  iiidiibmbi^^^ 
that  many  6f  thbm  w^'e  so  debUated  they  weif 
uaaUe  |o  proceed  with  the  brig»d^'oii.i|f  tnMh 
iropk  the  plAce  of  its  last  at(&kaiuilaeiii||ly  did 
not  r^h  the  maifi  body  until  the^4^'fi^^ 
brigM^iMi  joined  it,  ani)  f<>me  not  ev^ep  untiil^ 
arm  HBRJi|>e&hed  the  f'our  Cornell  of  Chataii^^; 

Never  to  W  knpwl^idge,  during  our  inarch  tvk'^ 
to  Canada,  and  while  we  remained  at  the  Four  G(h>  ' 
ners,  d^  tenii  of  twenty  six  days,  did  g<^neral  Jf  «dip- 
ton  eve^  fend  off  a  scouting  oi^ reco%i^itreifif  pat- 
ty (except  in  one  or  ti^o  cases  at  Spear's  ihvffltu^ 
oaf  when  he  detached  a^few  dragoons  for  thisf  <% 
ty)  ndvdid  he»  ^ralii  the  tinne  we^ol^ti^d  9&t  . 
miMPeh  from  €uiiib(^and  headtir  odi*  at^ivut  it^^ 
J?\mi^0lf/*^a  Mdt  a  it^  flanks  jl^'^l^ar 
guaM^lo^  b^  kept  up^  thoai^  A  gl^'pfw 
tiigkefipeime  ti»sN<^)^^Whichriwid|iir^ 

Oii%:n((^  huwi6t^fr*by  his  order,  bi|i  by 

-  ■  •  «-  .    *  --j-        .  •■„.■..  '       -■  ---'->"  ■    -Jj'^'-:-  ■   ■■!<«•■  ■:r-.  jf^v' 

'['f.'i'^^-   •   '«-■"'.•:     >■'»■.'■    ••-;■-  •■'■■V>:  ■■•-r', "^^ ■-■■^T'.'-~  -■  ■  ■•■""T"'";-:--  •■ ' --       "^  '        -'~»'\:*rv^^^l' 


^:' 


''''. .. 


'^  {P.r* 


If 


^r^* 


p^8.  =^]{^  ift  Qiily 


to 


«    .-1^. 


vr.v 


ii" 


,  ..im(ltli^«)i#were|trei^ejd  aH^g  the  5<»ji»tbi!W|ll 

iMkjb  ^i^in^  |h«t  piwiy  JtaviJ  died  iireanj 
si^nce  of  thii^  who  mijg^t:  havc^  liej^  savied  to 
tl^adyes  if  li'ot  to  tM  servioe:  vTb^sftticral/in- 
ijp^,  aj:  thelime  this  Qr4 

i       a%r  our  returji  to  the  Four  GorheWif  4ia  or4«?i: 
tr|^8poptoitipnf<^tlf&3}ck  to  BurKng;^>i]^^^^b^^  tbif 
» the  ouly  ^»ta«©e  ^  my  If nowjd^ 
%TOi^  Jiflfil^^         depirtrnQOt  if  worih)ypf  nci- 
ti<^.  ^  !My  cw^r'lor  jiirovi^n  was:  m%  ^Mikjmf} 

-^  iii»?  ^iHlwidd  I  obtaiior  anjT^  ibut  ||^,sjpceial  liej^iifl^  of 
g^f)^l<0jaih||on.  Tho^mmiatecy  of  issues  biw 
B^n  cofislaiii^  io  thttMoit  of  J^%#t^^ 
i^.  of  tl|c  beeves  to  o$Qicier8;,and  i\itK^S^ef^t^ 
flS^d  this,  togpnerai  Hain|}toa  as  unusual  lu^^ 
pfbjicr,  he  refqfted  to  take  any  pther  ^tid^  of  i<^ 
tito?  ftayiog*^  ;^  ihe  commissary  is  a^^table  #or. 
atl|^a^f|fib  beetoveoto  a  poundof^unce  of 
tidtow;''  nor  did  he  takd  anyV«otice  of  an^ 
|te»  of  muM^ndOpt  of  the  comiiiissary,  thsi^f  aqt^ 
,   ing^  in  tfir^apaxjifcy  of  sutler,  but  saiiclibilwl^ 

jporchawng  of  hinfi.  ,  a^  ^  -^  ^    t 

^  TheiioiniiOonpracticcs witbgerteralHafll^ 

%rc8ting1&fficd:B  andrdeasihg  them  withoot  ttieir 

Gonsfeht;  of  releiastOg  arrested  olBcers  without  the 

Itnowledge  or  consent  of  the  officers  by  wliom 

Ihey  Were  arrested  (the  case  of  lieiitenant  Mipis, 

of  iii^d  i*p^€ia;,  i^hp  #^^ 

^%e  charge  of  cOWin-diceiud^^  before  the 

f  j^i^^^  tfee  26(ii^€Mob^  1813,  tfefe  time  of  the 

'  il^iiK^fiim  ^  enemy  at  Qm^stown,  or^Cha- 

%Hipjf|p^  of  rcftiwjg  to^^ 


ti. 


■'{> 


.vcd  to 

lueshas 

Abhfor 
mnceof 

fact- 
it  by 

^|ibn,of 
)ittbeiF 
loutthe 
whom 

iiiedii 
sfore  the 
leb^the 
for.Cha- 


W 


-^,  .,,V^f 


1^  eil&d)ffe^  whdm  1 1^| 
tm&i  thar  poitffr  in  ftfoc.^  0611011$  01 
A»deMtii$^0&^  i^ 

irig  ii^  im  im^oper  tfilmnar*^M^'^ 
edmfliiliHii  of^e  «l^y,  a«li  r«lbrei(ie«^^4iMl 
imcd  by  Mto  wlH  slfc^,  ibai4e/^%ei^'1iti^ 
ea|)Heiciu8ne<i  of  h]^  conduct  arid  tti^  tbtatii  wail'm 
steadiness  in  (iiis  ihtifehtiQitf . 

Stich  has ;i>ecn  tho  genenil%  (idndticlon-sdmii 
oeeafflonsr  ihftt^  t  have,  |p  common  Vrith  ^er  <#: 
fleers,  beenlitdl^oed  tOK  believe  thnt  h(b  watt  oii^ 
the^iiMKience  oliii  too^ee  use  6f  spiritu^us^iquiin, 

I  mu^  in  juitice  to  general  Hft^|itOfi  sa^y  Ihit 
the  expedition  hei>lanneditiid  wfaictt  t  httte  eall^ 
'^difSeiik  and  fatigiif|^»^d,at  theUi9t^  itWfis 
suggested  to  me,  by  hiib,  meeft  my  futtiii^l^ati^j 
aiid^^I  hav^  sihce'Been  no  reason  lor  cMt^jK^ 
»&  ©fits  practicability,  or 'U6eMnes8;bm 
I  Kistt^llft^y  th&t  it  required'  coitaipetent  guidieB; 
and  thes6  (a^  Iiaidbel»re)  he  promised  to  MOS^, 
tu^,:b}»l^did  notf^    V 

:  fmiil  #otjampnJio  officer  that  has  served  uii* 
der  li^  Hampton,  on  the^te  campaign . 

can,  or  wHicoritradict  this  statement. 

V       ,  A  true  copy,    -  I 

B,  H.  MCPHERSON,      | 

J  ,,    Captain  and  secretary*  "^ 

i  of  .|i  Jettcr  fi;oB  the  Secretary  of  war  toigkiijor  $^m 
.«"^^  ■    'ncral^WilkinBon.       ■/■■'*.'/'.•■"   4^ 

^  r      Albany)  Kov.  16,  1813. . J 

^  ^My  li^st  advices  from yroui^  ofthe  3d  kiit 
m>^t  says  thikt  the^giirnsofA  #1  KingstoiiA^inll 


«»1^  ■>■;.. 
'If?  ■ 


'■ijt 


'>'>'L*.i<,r;-L;^^:'>i:;w,;.p 


...«'■       r^^..i',  "4.1  .\:^\-:   .^  . 


,4 


'4%,' 


,4abriiieHM'«et^  it  roiiffhlf ^  «n(|l  tb 

e^lMl  it  to  fetreat  to  tbe  main  bo<fy.   1?o  tlii 

M^Ij^vfiocrcdfit:    V     ^  f 

:>  t  -**^  Beesuse  movifi^  ^h  thcii^crity  iMScts- 

^  liu^^Q  your  i>l)(iecto^  it  i^i^yy^ino^obiible  theA 

'^vfjr  ccwl  ^  ^^  exertion,  hift^1)een  able  to 

-  OveM«k«Hrou;  and;      ^^  V 

^£d.^3^ie  itls  ^tteihcfedi§i(c^^^^ 
^i^.  irryouf  reiii*,  a  heavy  eoqps  capable  (^  di8l^iHb)ii% 
t^  isiaiii  iMitioti  of  the  campaign/ you  should  not 
^iJceA  effeetqal  measures  to  beat  aiid  destroy 
if  1^600  men  were  oot  sullioient  for4his  pur* 
iiose,  0;0OO  wereso;  ai^  the  garrisons  of  I^truptoh 
mdd  fVe^tt  destrovisd  (though  we  filled  m  g^t^ 
ling  lo  Montreal),  th^  upper  pirovinOewa^Won^'' 


n 


iM-' 


^M-nn  of  a  letter  from  major  gette#al|!Vilkl 
^Jslcretarjr  <Jf  war,  dated  French  MillS)  Kov«  S 


to  the 


'  <*  1  have  had  the  honor  to  receive  j^Hir  lettet^of 
ih^  Idth  instant  from  Albany,  and  hope  my ^^' 
Ultchei^  have  reached  you  Which  left  this  on  the 

ittb.  ■  -  '  -  ■-^:.l;- 

. .  *^  With  respect  to  the  unfortunate  issue  of  the 
isamipaign,  1  disclaim  the  shadow  of  blaBoe^  be- 
esiise  1  know  i  have  done  my.  duty,  and  more 
than  my  duty,  and  so  do  those  with  whom  I  have 
acted.  To  general  Hampton^  outrage  of^Hiery 
principle  ofsvbordmdium  and  discipline  maybt^m- 
mhed  theifu^Uure  ofihe  ^/lec^jtton,  and  ikhat  i^iv'e 
not  yet  arrested  htm  must  be  attributed  to  my  re- 
fpeet  for  you,  and  tny  desire  that  the  ai^st  shpu^ 
l|roc^  from  the  highest  authority;  for  if  this  a(| 
be  suffered  to  pass  nnnoticed  and  unpunishMU 
%hl  efftoblish  %  precedent  to  justify  disobedience 


trm, 

letliat 
ible  lo 

.ft  ■ '       ' 


lid  not 
iesitoy 

IfB  pUf- 

M  get 
won.'* 


ajbtothe 

teUdrof 

oii  the 

sfbf  the 
Biey^- 
i  more 
I  have 


myre- 
0hpi^<i 
;his  lu^ 
Uh^it 
€dienc6 


i 


M 


w 


Iklr  stibtlsrt'lhoM  db%i^ 
01%  which^  ^d<»i<}3^  ]^ 
climf^y  diii>ew5.     .  "^- 

<<  Aftor  pi^J|^8  by  deftth^f  dei^iiiotutf  «iidf^i< 
ohnrgeisiAce^e  left Sac^tt^b  Ifai^boi^i  £ tl^  W 
flhaill  nbt'^  a^b  4a  ishdw  you  nsore  than  .0,19190 
men  at  thii' point,  .exchisiii^  of  the  dra^^o^  wi(b 
have  beon  ordered  to  Creenbush  and  Pittsfield  fov^ 
convehi^C^  an,4  ecor^oiny.?  ;  ?r 


')• 


•ut^ 


«War ^ Det>artment,  NoVtmber  !^,  I»I3. 


^       V  Ifi^^c^intnended  to  you  to  ebn^olidioete 
yoiir  tnfailtry  %nd  artillery  mto  complete  rf|f- 
inentsy  or  asjiear^y  so  as  possible,  for  the  winter, 
r^samji^  i^kfi  x:omplenieiit  of  your  inbst  df&:ient 
oiBceiis^tpifi^pi^riiaha  them,  andd^tachin^anjP||J6^ 
plim^tolTic^if  imihecliately  on  the  re^nxiting  s^riaccli:^ 
an4^  tho>  sevieral  dHtricts  indiciited  by  theruleff 
fr)d|G^i^b^ipns*^^^^^T^     regulation  should  <Bxten<i^ 
'^Js^n<^|i«M^^  '  if 

vAnin^^dlate  inquiry  into  the  terms  of  entiitr 
ment  of  the  men  composing  your  armyshpvildJlteR 
iitstitiit^;  andf  endeayprs  should  be  made  to  re- 
enlist  |iJiythQse  whose  terms  of  service  are  abosjt 
expirinjB^/; '  ,*  .r^    .■ 

Wiit  most  severe  attention  to  discipline  must  be 
begun,  and  the  slightest  departures  from  it/whe- 
U)^  iii^officer  or  soldier,  noticed  and  punished. 
Cld^  toihe  several  companies  must  be  appointee^ 
and  company  books  kept,  showing  every  thingj?e- 
cpi^  by  the  soldier,  and  charging  himtherewtth. 
li^^  the  next  or  any  future  inspection  it:  be  fbun4^^4 
thatiiny  article  of  his  c{othii^,  or  of  his  arms,  has 
been  lost  or  eold,  the  article  is  td^be  supnlied.  ana 
•'  '■■'..  -  .  '       .  11 


i 


»  ^ 

.V 


-  *f. 


m 


^■i**' 


;1»  lief^iv  «>fMi  iiioiii  tri^  hav«'  beeo  4^  1^ 
ishodcifif  abuwfti^ 

Ckiofiaiotiill  re|ii|i!U  triB  provided  by  >he  ^rules 
^d  lai^'  be  Iliads  ag;riseiib)y  tliiei^ 

iQ^r  who  ncf^edlBB  or  refui^  I0  p^rlbf^  this 

iy,  ebftll  be  di^iwed  th^  s^ice; 


-^ 


%  ftin  Sii>  ^tery  respecstfull^v 

,,  -  ,,your  flg|6st  otediei^t  steri«^ 


^'^j 


J0EfN  ARMS'TROtNG. 


Mftjor  general  Wilkinaoi). 


C' 


■'■■), 


■A 


.^r: 


I.  ' 


-     4 


BxtrttC^  <i|  r  letter  from  maicit  <^^Qmt  Wilkinson  to  the 
secr^tarf  of  warvdated  Hea4  qttart^^  fi|ah»ie)  mili- 
tfrydiitrict  Ho.  9,  Pecember  6, 1813.  *, ;  ^    ?•>  ^  y 

'  <^  Ypur  three  Otters  of  the  25th  ulti^  c^Qie  td 
hand  fm  the  30th;  and  1  am  hapf^  to^  fbd  that  I 
had  iu^kticipftlQd  the  \riewB  eof)unuoioai<^  iQi|^<^ 
letters^  as  ur  as  regpects  the^seciirlty  dC  0tm^ 
and  centfHs.  When  1  ordeiied  majorj^tiierii^ailtip* 
l<^  to  mn^FCe  thepdstof  thiei^ur  C^ii^ors,  it 
was  imder  the  iiiipresslon  that  Cuoiberlaiid^iMl 
iti^as  gMarded;  but  the  motnieiit  i  was  undipcayiid 
and  ap0iisedx>f  the  exposed  situation  of  our  de<» 
pc^ al:.r lattsburg,  the  order  was  coiinterma|:^dBd, 
m  you  have  seen  from  the  documents  ^hi(^  tiiH^ 
transmitted  you.  You  must  also  haveplsre^^i 
from  those  documents,  that  1  was  hot  iosenilbfe  ot 
tba  importance  of  condeiising  our  lorcc^  and  Ihat 
I  had  made  a  propositioii  respecting  ^puiftens  p^ 
piratoiytosuph  eyent.^  ^  ^  .   >*^ 


.1  » '  - 


?■', 


.^ 


'*;'^ 


Ahs 


.-<* 


t  ^ 


■*r 


cli^Bdlhj 


^#?.: 


■c; 


*'Tb 

r^ianc< 
enables 


L      .  ^ 


fules 

lein- 
thtt 


JNQ. 


I  tp  the 
e,  mili- 


thatl 


il 


8 


era,  it 


JSdi^^t i^i  inipector  g^neraFs  oflicei 
Jamiarf  37, 1814, 


Absiract  from  the  r«i^H  df  flif '  *' 

V  coiij#i|i^i»^|eAc»r«ffp«i^f)MHit  aiidfitiacertQCihe 
.  ^  several  YegsinMlHta  ani^f^orpit  on  fikiceinbfr  1*1 9}Si  .^^ 

m 


m      ^     . 

&th  reg^inedK  infantry 
0th       ditto  t     . 

nth      dm 

"^   12th        ditto 

I4^h        ditto        .■ 
t  45tti       ditto  ..       . 

smh     tfitto'      . 

2l8t        ditto    « 
2$d         ditt^        - 

^Riilemen  >  ;        ^ 


549    ♦ 
454 
500 
591 


m 


330 
841 
455 
57« 
203 

8,148 


In9pectoc^ge|«ra|)f 


mr 


«ufft  not  inf. 


Ihare 


P^ 


of  fi  letter  from  major  general  Wilkinson  to  the  ^« 
cretary  cff^lfi  dated  Malbne,  I)eeember  8|  181^. 


.fc.' 


f  The  unavoidable  delay  of  the  express  (as  no^J 
r^ncecim  be  placed  io  the  mail  froi^  this  place)  ^t 
enable  ipe  to  send  you  the  copy  of  a  letter 


»'^a»'*,V;jJFi 


■;^'  -*■  *v-*  '^■. 


D5^v»* 


.yV^'^t,-  ^^.-i^f  np^'pV-. 


0". 


■■It , 


'•84 

m.. 


ch%et1ii0marT  \ylth  traitc^ous  designs, 
|>ut  1  tid|i^hbrtd,  in  dn^  other  myemmnt.  a^  miU« 
%ryomcer  who  first  defovtei^tne  pt^t  of  acaiBlf 
P^  liy  disobecjftence  of  ord^r?,  anil  then,  without 
iuthbilt^,  furlotighed  allthacmctoRc;  ^ccrsof  the 
'  iiiisiOfi^  lie^  liomiiiAnded  on  g  p&\bi0froniitv,  in 
Ibe  vhu&ty  of  an  enemy,  woiildlnctfr  heavy  pe*: 
■flaltic^/'    '..,..  -;■''-""" 


':'W-- 


,W^-' 


•  "-:;»■ 


Extn^tQi  a  Utter  from  brigadier 'geperijLl  Izfirfl  to  Miajor 
gen^ralWHkinson,  datfd  Ptettsburg,  IJ^cembet  6?  >?l|. 


■A* 


f  Thei^p  is  an  unayoidahte  delay  in  tl^e  returns  of 

!thececiments  ^thfs  division,  proeeedingli^iu^the 

,;i^xtrel«eirtexpcncnce  of  the  officers  of  all  gi^es, 

"  Wy  with'thcm;  almost  every  eJTtcieiit  ^icer  is  ei^ 

%ier  sick^^'Or  was  furloughed  by  mtijor  gliieral 

^amjpton  at  the  moment  of  his  own  <|^r!ure; 

'iftiose  that  r^ahi^are  barely  enough  ttf-peifohh 

'^'W  Wtine  Off  duty  in  this  oantimi^  * 

'.  "c-i"*    *     .  ,■:     '  -■  •'..;.'  .  ■     v'  V    ■  •      ■  .  •  ■  '■    .  '■  ,    - 

s  •      ■  ■  '  >   I  •  ,        -     :      I    ,   ■ 

'V  £xtnlct  of'ia  If  tter  from  major  general  Wilkuison  to  the  s^* 
,      f  cretarf  of  war,  dated  Maloiie,  Dec.  34,  181 3. '  . 

,  V!  "  I  believe  I  have  not  hitherto  transmitted  you 
^""^  a  copy  of  a  conimunicatioT^  which  toO^  plai3|  b0* 
*?  .tween  commodore  Chaan<?e"y  and  myself  the  (S^y 
^ore  I  sailed  from  French  creek,  and  1  do  it  now 
0  show  you  what  were  my  anticipatiorii^  of  fhe 
,_piovements  of  the  enemy  left  behind  me,  aiid  how 
delusive  were  all  the  promises  made  to  nte  that 
fifiy  pear  fhould  be  protected"    ^^:^   ^^v,-  _^ 


■^?M 


Ail 


,.f;"0 


m- 


85t' 


■^i> 


F  1  was  ^o  }ll  ycdtcrday  I  could  not  caH  ^ 

!  see  you;  iwitj  I  now.  send  up  to  say  that  1  shwl 
'.^sail  this  evening;  andtC  I  am  not  Qb6tri]ftpci% 
« the  enemy's  arm^  Vessels  which  may  hjfcVe  sijbpud 
down  the  otW  ^^Wnel,  T shall  pMi>  P^eijpott  to- 


•:'*'■ 


'l^ 


fnorraw^H^ffht,  or  land  the  next  nsoniuig  ti:r  take 

the  i^e,  tfrl  cannot  pass  it  without  too  ^g*vrat 

•^hNard*    >A«.this  operation  may  require  three  ror 

>i('tour  days,  itif  not  improbahle  the  enemy'ai  pquB" 

:^dr<^fY  mav  fxial^    some  attempts  to  destroy  my 


boats';  aiid  therefore  1  must  intreat  you  .to  walph 

his  ev^ry  mptioiit  ihd  to  give  my  flotjlla  every 
_«,;p<^te^tioh  lii  yotii*  power. 
^     Wc  ^re  a  match  for  the  gun  boats  ^if  this  cne- 

m^,  but  inferior  to  ,»rmed  schooners,  jmd  tb^. 
'  fori^ifiOMld'  you  eonsisisnily  spare  us  thp :  ?^rt,  or 

^Eis^^itmed  vessel,  to  mn  down  io  Ui^^1^ 

of  Qpbnsbui^  and  immediately  retu^,  it  w^<^ 
add  te^iirity  to  our  niQvemj^nts.  ' 

/l^jbr  Johnson  witl  have  the  honOr  to  deRver 
yott  jtht9,  ai^  I  will  tbanlf^3^ou  for  any  Imiorma^ 

.  ttdn  you  can^ye  me  rjespecting  the  nxovemenls  of 
thc-enemy. 

I  yiSh  very  much  to  say  farewell  to  yoii,  but  1 
aiitt  sehsible  of  the  delicacy  of  your  situationy  and 
my  id^seUse  having  changed  into  ^  violeni  inj^m- 
matlon  of  the  breast,  I  dar^  not  get  f^et.  If  thenf 
it  is  destined  that  we  are  not  to  meet  agai%  I  will 
Ipave  with  you  my  prayers  for  long  life  and  lau- 

,• 'Tels  in  this  world,  and  evcrlast'mg  happiness  in  that 
flhich  is  to  come.  ;r 

>^;  ;  fcireWeli,  my  friend,  and  may  your  covntii^ 
understand  your  skill  aiid  valor  as  well  as  doea 

:M. ;  WILtKINSON, 


flff: 


JSfeJ.t,  .h-r/-'*.%*-. 


?8* 


/•>  - 


i  j««* 


VtMf^  SUttt*  •T^p  General  Pike«  at  anchor  off 

Ymt  favDr  of  thi*  days'  dale  has  this  moment 
been  htiiiM  ^401^  l»y  in^^^ 

"frbm^besl  informatioii  ttiat  I  cai^  gel,  thp 
eneibyi  fftet  la  at  or  m  the  Tietnitur  of  Kini^^, 
and  I  ipidk  ifti^  you  have  notfiiing  to  appref^p 
from  tbeni,  as  I  am  in  a  siinstioh  to  watch  both 

ehannds* 

I  should  deem  it  ut&$Se  to  separate  aiH^  part  of 
myiR|u#iltt>n  as  long^  as  the  enemy  remams  above 
me:  in'fiuiit^  I  am  in  hourly  exp^QjIitJliQn  of  beinft 
attad^  ^  sir  James  down  the  sputK  ohaficiel^ 
in  that  pais  I  iballreiquiire  ail  my  forc^  ashe  has 
added  a  numbeir  of  gun  boats  to  his  fleet*  If  hjQ^" 
e?er^  al^  James  should  detiCih  ariy  part  of  hil'^t , 
doi^n  4l|b  Qorth  I  will  send  a  su^eient 

forK46wti  to  oppose  him. 

liptfitmain  m  my  preSiifit  station  lihtilyio^ 
pass.  INisott,  ^bnt  «^  anxious  pis^  that  event  to 
take  pfiiee  at  as  earfy  a  day  lis  pOiiinblc^  as  ihe 
jlect  c^n^  fiioire  out  of  this  i^ver  tJipept  Mth  a 
£urwmd.  It  ip  fo  be  apprehended  th»t  after  a. 
ib#  days  a  sp^  of  W^stwardly  wlh^f  will  set. ^n; 
whidtmay  (fetaiii  us  until  the  ice  m^es^  Which 
woiidd  eilft^^  e^^ly  of  the  fleet,  ahdpiro- 
bai9l3rlea#ti>^i(i  final  destruc^on.  If  it  is  pcKifsihle 
for^jrou  to  communieate  to  me  in  any  way,,  when 
you  pass  FVescott,  I  should  esteem  it  aa  a  par^* 
.  euliirfevbr.'.  r  '"^'f'' ''^/^_^^ 

May  your  present  enterprise  be  crowned  ivltli> 
all  ihe  toocess  that  you  yoi;(r8e1f  can  wish^  and. 


"^ 


.?«.■ 


UtM 


Cm 


.iT:./:.     r     "tS? 


^^^.^wsm  ■  ^:'^-'i£;.:':_ :M^\ 


8%'"V^'''^- 


/'. 


;^ 


CMJ; 


*'^',.''-i  * 


W^ 


dated  by  your  country  is  the  pray^  of^  .1^ 

iMarsir,  jrour  friend  \ 

.  .AimI  bumble  servient/  '    , 

ISAAC  faHAlWJEVt" 


Mtf)or  genenft  Jimcf  WUldnson}  comnitncler 
in  chief  pf  tlie  American  forces  in  and  upon 
the  St;  Lawrencci  fcc.  Ice*  kc. 


€<»nreepi»ide|ft«i^betircen  tlie  if  cretary  pf  war  and  coloneU/ 
Forier  and  general  M<C)urt9  &c«  ^j^ 


' '%. 


WAR  TDEPARTJIENT, 

February  lb;  Idtd. 


4> 


l\-iV 


JL$^^b^*«heiny^B  force  and  defene«  on  the  Cini|- 
da  mde4|^  the  Niagara  river  are  ^nderst^odi^to  ^t 
wealc;  if^ur  for^e  h  respecM^lc^^  ¥>d  bU^^ 
td^  be  tompeteiit  to  a  successful  attack  of  these^ 
and  atsthe  se^on  has  now  furnished  you  ^ilh  a 
brif|^e|%  wefVfor  retreat  as  for  advahce,#  is 
ihoij^t  advisable  that  you  ^o  not  permit  circiim- 
sta^^  so  fayorable  to  escape  witnoui  iniikini  a 
strol^e-afisjlicb  points  of  the  enemy's  Hne^  iksllaiy 
bem09t  wi^ift  your  reiush.    If,  after  feeluil^  l(ie 
eneiljy  k  fbrt  ^rie,  you  shoidd  find  ^oiiiieirabiie 
to  exlei^d  your  attack  to  fort  Greorge,  it  Witt  be  d^-     '^ 
sirabl^;  but  of  this^ou  can  judge  best  after  yodr    ^ 
first  ekperimenti'  To  an  old  soldier,  like  yoisrseif^ 
it  is  unoecessary  to  go  more  ii>tp  detail*    ITou 
kiio^  What  you  ought  to  do,  ajq^  you  wjitt  iio  it,  ' 
CoffliKitlnieate  this  letter  to  lieutenant   colbnet  ^ 
Bqertitl^r,  and  accept  the  as^rances  of  my  res|>ec| 
^iid:gOOd  wishes. 

(Signed)  JOHN  ARMSTRONG. 

Colon<^  Porter^  light  aniUery,  commanding  '^g,  ^ 

the  troops  ot  the  United  States  on  the 
?     Kiagan  river. 


t"s ..i>-  .■'5j'-'ti,'.Av*'"_'..if-u.  ;  J.*^''i>", 


[54] 

*  ■  ■  , 

ahuct  6? 'a letter  from  mijior |i;«ticral 0tariorh  t^tWt  ic* 
\^^  creUrjr  of  w»r,  dated  Albany, M«rcKS5,  1813.    : 

^  (i^Ionel  t^drtei*  info^ihs  nie  that  heliad  comnien* 

'«pd  the  nqectssary  praparatidn^  fqp  an  attack  qm  fort 

jBde»  l^u(  th(»  d^r^Mtti  of  a  eeijeani  prevented  his 

^  carrying  ^%  ii^mted  aiUcb:  intq  operation.    Two 

oflkier^.lf  kh  im  ni^  far  as 

:  to  be  8(|rrounded  on  Ihejce,  and  were. niade  pri* 

foncro*  Port  Brie  was  illim«dialely  r^inforised,  and 

lie  had  giiT^n  over  any  linmediate  movement." 


L*;i 


^^'LfeUf  n  fi«in  colonel  Scott  (Sd  artillerjr  rvgjmeni)  to  tnajor        ^|' 

'  genersj  Wilkinson. 

Fort  Georgei  Monday ,  7  o'ciock>«P.  ]if.t  > 
''       %  '     Octobefll,  l»li3/     <^; 


§1% 


#Vi^ 


»--v 


^  within  tlie  last  five  minutes,  I  have  had  the  ho* 
iV»r.iQ  receiv^  your  despatch  by  *^  The  Lady  of  the 
LaHfi.^     ,  ■  ^:    ,;■.■• 

;^The  enemy  has  treated  roe  with  neglect.  Ue 
c«vj^tnued. in  his  0ld  positions  uptil  Ss^tui'dj^.l^t, 
(^hctOth)  wh^n  he  toot  ujfi  his  retread  gir^^^ 
Jhejg^ts,  and  has  abcmdmed  ihi$  wHMiptnii^ial 
iTwo  cai^ses  are  assigned  for  this  precipitate;  nip(>ve- 
metit;)t|i^succ6r  of  Proctor,  who  is  reported  to 
have  been  entirely  defeated,  if  not  taken;^h^  othipr 
the  safety  of  Kingston,  endangered  by  ydiir  mpve^ 
ment. 

'  We  have  had  from  the  enemy  many  deserters, 
most  of  whotn  Concur  in  th?  latter  supposition. 

The  British  burnt  every  thing  in  store  In  this 
neighborhood,  3,000  blankets,  many  liuhdr^  stiand 
of  acms^  also  the  blankets  in  the  mens'  packs,  '^nd 
evfspy  artide  cff  clothing  not  in  actual  use. 

They  are  supposed  to  have  reached  Burlington 

khts  last  evening,  iircm  the  rate  of  their  march 


blelii 


iici{S,ii 


r  v/iUBsg, 


■,■  w'*  '■■■    ■   ■'■■ 


ffien- 
ifort 
dhi0 
Two 
farfi3 
5  pri- 
I,  and 


major 


dftUe 

;;;'",  He 

on 
W 

ted  to 
Otfer 
nipve- 

5erter8» 

ioti. 
nn  this 
istiufid 
Lsy'tind 

lingtoii 
Imarch 


fWl 


not 


«/l» 


»r. 


tbjo  nigM  before*  J  have  information  oftheir  hav* 
ing  passed  <*  the  40,"  by  several  inhabitants  who 
have  come  down.  They  add  to  what  was  stated 
hy  the  deserters,  that  two  oilicers  of  the  41st  had 
joined  general  Vincent  front  Proctor's  army  with 
the  information  that  Proctor  was  defeated  18  miles 
thii  side  of  Maiden.    1  cannot  get  particulars. 

i^rom  the  same  sources  of  intelligence,  it  appears 
that  the  40th,  apart  of  tlie  100th,and  the  VoHig^urs, 
moved  frotn  tpit  neighborhood  the  day  after  our 
flotilla  left  this,  the  3d  instant,  but  with  what  des^ 
tination  is  |iot  certainly  known.  w 

It  was  first  reported  (I  mean  in  the  British  camp) 
that  these  regiments  had  marched  to  support  ProcT 
tor,  who  it  is  said,  wrote  that  he  would  be  com^  ^ 
pelled  to  surrender  if  not  supported* 
uf  annjpret^  8ure>  however,  that  they  are  gonef 
below.  The  movement  of  our  army,  6e(ot9,  seems 
to  have  Seen  known  in  the  British,  lines  as  earl^  as 
the  3d  instant,  together  with  the  immediate  obj^ta 
in  view;  hence  1  have  no  difticuHy  in  concluding 
that  all  the  movements  of  the  enemy  will  conccn*^ 
trat^Bi  ^t  Ifinggton. 

*   Chapin^  who  has  been  commissioned  lieutenant^ 
icolohel,  marched  late  last  evening  up  the  lake, 
with  about  100  volunteers  under  his  comman% 
ani^l^liS  followed  this  morning  by  generab  M'Gluri  > 
and^J^prtipr,  with  about  1000  men,  Indians  and  mi^ 
lijtii  iJEioluded.  There  is  no  danger  of  their  coming 
pp)iyith  the  enemy,  or  they  would  be  in  great  dan- 
ger of  a  t(>tal  annilulatipn* 

V^JDCent  took  hence  with  him  about  a  tho^isand 
^  ^v^  hMndred  regulars.  Mafiiy  of  the  militia  le^:^ 
lbf||^ii|  ibe  a70W«3  design  of  ptoder;  bMt  1  fisar* 
Itii^lfi  |^Qi$s,  t      the  Piitisfaihave  left  the  nuserarf ' 
ble  inhabitants  without  any  thing  t^o  be  ravished' 
I  e|i^^  general  M'CHiire  back lo^morrow  evening. 


12 


v>«^'-" 


m. 


U    f 


•VH 


IMI 


as  he  only  took  with  him  sappltet  for  two  dayi; 
be  wilC  probably  go  as  far  as    ehe  120.*' 

On  the  8th,  CHapin  went  out  with  a  small  par- 
ty and  attacked  one  of  the  enemy's  pipquets,  wnich 
IX  0'  'htoii  a  skirminh,  in  \  hien  many  of  cdtofnd 
Swift  b  regiment  participated.  After  a  great  waste 
of  ammunition,  the  parties  retii'ed  to  their  reipec- 
tivc  camps  with  little  loss  on  either  side;  we  made 
and^tost  a  prisoner,  had  two  Indians  ki^ed,  likld 
two  other  men  wounded.  We  hear  theeneihy  had 
five  men  wounded. 

'^  1  had  this  morning  made  an  arrangement/ on 
a  pplicatiofn  of  general  M*Clure,  to  be  refievedinlhe 
conDrnand  of  this  post  on  the  morning  of  the  IStb 
instant,  with  an  intention  of  taking  up  my  litie  of 
march  tor  Sackett's  Harbor,  accordmg  to,the  discre- 
tion ullo^cd  me  in  the  instructions  Ihadthe  honor 
to  re':eive  from  you  at  this  place.  Mv  situa- 
tion has  become  truly  in8U{>portable:  without  the 
possibility  of  an  attack  rJ  this  post,  and  with- 
put  ttYe  possibility  of  reaching  you  time  enough  to 
>!iafe  in  the  glOry  of  impending  operations  below. 

V  1  am,  nevertheless,  flattered  with  the  assunuice 
"^hat  transport  wiH  be  forwarded  for  my  removalf 

'  ^>^d  to  Tavor  that  intention,  I  propose  taking  up 
tny  line  of  march  on  the  mominff  of  the  l^;for 

f^  i  ic  mouth  of  Genncssee  river,  and  there  awa^t^he 

'^^  arrival  of  the  Vessels  you  are  good  enough  to^o- 
mise  me.  ^y  this  movement,  captain  Mi  iit^r^ 
with  me,  that  I  shall  hasten  my  arrival  at  P  ■^  *' .  ' '  '' 
Harbor,  five,  possibly  ten  days.  Captain.  ^y,m\t 
has  a  sufficient  number ;  of  wagons  to  take  me 
t-iit'h^r:  I  can  easily  make  that  place  by  the  ^en** 
ittg    *■  fhe  15th.    I  hope  I  shall  have  your  ap^o- 

"^^ia.x'.  i4(d  e»  ^ty  thing  is  arranged  with  bri|adier 


<r.. 


-''■ttftj' 


^^('lav 


)^novv  Ing  j^i|!|.  v^  .»he|  respecting  tb%^yd^d»tCH* 


i  ♦ 


1- ■«.'>« 


*..,■ 


or 


subjcett  for  discharge,  and  IVaring  that  water 
transport  tfiight  not  te  had  t.ii  :he  season  wua 
too  far  advanced  for  their  removul  1  have 
ventured  to  send  lieutenant  Archer  (paymaster 
of  the  20th»  who  waa  left  here  withot^t  orders)  on 
command  to  Greenbush,  with  100  meu  of  this  de- 
scription. It  was  a  measure  approved  of  by  doctor 
Mann,  ^  :^d  '  hope  not  contrary  to  yoiir  wishes  and 
inten./ ;t^  Ooctor  Hugo,  surgeon's  mate  of  the 
]i'  (.u 90  left  here  without  orders)  accompanied 
the  It  hnient  The  quarter-master's  departiiient 
i  irnished  eight  wttgoiis  on  my  requisition; 

Thb  sick  list  of  the  garrison  is  much*  rediiced 
bince  your  departure,  (1  have  the  honor  to  enclose 
iny  report  of  this  morning)  and  doctor  Mann  has 
discharged  many  patients  from  his  hospital;  1  also 
enclose  you  his  last  report.  Those  marked  **  sub- 
jects f6r  discharge*'  are  part  of  the  number  sent  oft' 
to  Greenbush. 

Doctor  Mann  and  captain  Camp  have  conclud- 

*ed  to  remove  the  general  hospital  to  **  the  Eleven 

Mile  creek,"  near  Buffbloe,  the  barracks  at  lyhich 

jiYace  will  be  sufficient  for  the  n^ception  of  the 

whole  ot  the  sick,  with  some  trifling  repairs. 

From  the  morning  report  enclos^,  you  will  fmd 
794,  the  **  total,''  ^.  present  of  the  regulars  4)tf  this 
garfison,  including  officers,  &c.  Transport  will 
bie^  necessary  for  about  850  persons.  I  wisbalsoto 
take  with  me  four  iron  6's,  one  five  and  a  half  inch 
liOwUrer,  and  two  cassoons,  the  whole  on  ^cld 
carriages.  This  train  will  form  no  impedimient  in 
my  niarch  to  the  mouth  of  Geimessee  river,  as  I 
have  horses  belonging  to  the  regiment  sufficient  to 
drtfW  it.  If  ^  meet  your  approbation,  I  can  send 
the  horses  thence  to  Sackett's  Harbor  by  land. 

I  have,  by  working  almost  ni^ht  and  day,  great* 
ly  improved  the  defences  of  this  post,  and  nearly 


■t 


y 


filled  up  th^  idea  of  the  engineer.  I  flatter  tnysdi, 
that  I  have  altb  improved  tnb  garritfprt  ill  d|lciplih0t{ 
fft  m\M  a,p(i\oghe  for  the  hai^e,  in  which  Uiis  is 
writteir,  but  captain  Mix  prppoes  to  sail  immedi' 
atety,  and  1  fear  to  detain  him  a  moment.  1  t^ink 
I  fthall  e^ainly  be  at  the  mouth  of  ^he  Genn^see 
bythelSthihfit. 

I  haVp  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  -it 

t  With  the  hifjfhest  respect,  :U 

i  ■'  Your  itiost  obedient  ser^nt, 

^  W,  SCOTT, 

l,  Colonel  commanding' 

Mftjor  gfeheral  Wilkinson,  commanding,  See-  Sec.  ScCii 


■  I-  ■ 


PC 

FI 
ha 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  colonel  Winfield  Scott  to  the  se*;? 


|i- 


cretar7.|Of  war.  dated  Georgetown)   (Col.)  |}ec« 


"At  youridesircj  I  have  the  honor  to  niiakeihe 
following  report:  W' 

"I  left  fort  Qeorge  on  the  13th  of  October  last;,  <- 
by  order  of  major  general  Wilkinson  with  the 
whole  of  (|ie  reguj^  .troops  of  that  garrison,  and 
was  relieved  by  brigadier  general  M'Clure,  with  f 
body  of  the  New  York  detached  inilitia.    ' 

'*Fort  Geoi^,  as  a  field  work,  might  beconst^ 
dered  as  complete  at  tliat  period*  It  was  gar^ 
nished  with,  ten  pieces  of  artillery,  (which  number 
might  easily  have  been  increased  from  the  spa^ 
ordnance  at  the  opposite  fort)  with  an  ample  sufI* 
ply  of  fixed  ammunnition,  &c.  &c.  &c.  as  the  en- 
closed receipt  for  these  articles  will  exhibits  'V^ 
iv  *<f^brt  Niagara,  on  the  14th  October,  was  undcx* 
the  immediate  command  of  captain  I^otiard,  Itt 
artillery,  who,  besides  his  own  company,  had  oap«/ 
aaiaRei^'6  of  the  same  regii^|)t|  tq^^cllii^  ^i|t|v 


'v^-^i-C '^e^'^  fe  -^t:'^^-;:^^  ^:?^? 


.*5-'a 


■pp^ 


wmm 


r94i\ 


m  ts 
veil' 
iiink 


!!»€• 


;he  se- 

c.  31, 


I  .;:-;-'■ 

r  last, 

and 
rith  a  V. 

■Mr 

mbcr#' 


sup- 
ecn- 


K« 


■'■t:-'<y4<:  ■    ♦*' 


so#i  ofbrigfidicr  gencril  M*CIui«'8  brlgRiJe  us  faa^ 
reffused  to  cross  tlie  river.    Lieut^nai)t  colonelii 
Fl«mniing,  Bloom,  and  Dobbii^a  c^f  ;the,^}tti%i 
had  successively  been  in  thecbtriiniin4<>f  M^hs  f^ti^ 
by  order  of  th^  brigadier  general*  but  Jl  think  obi^^ 
thUst*  of  them  Was  present  at  tbe  kbpve  periodr*Mi»' 
Mi0or  general  Wilkinsoli  in  his  order  4o  mr  for  the. 
removGU  of  the  regular  troops  on  that  frontier,  ^x«^ 
oepted  the  two  companies  of  the  1st  artillery  theli  > 
at  fort  Niagara   And  under  the  supposition  that  I 
should  nieet  water  transport  for  my  detachment  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Genriessee  river,  1  had  hi|  prdersto 
take  v^th  ihe  the  whole  of  the  cdnvarescents  fefl,. 
in  the  different  hospitals  by  the  regiments  whicn 
had  accompanied  him.    Thi^  order  I  complied 
with.**'   '     ■  ,;  '  ■■■'■'      '  '^    s'  ■■"•■' 

Note.— -By  the  arrangements  of  the -war  department,  brigadier  gene.^' 
ral  Porter,  of  the  United  States'  army,  was  designated  for  coitunand  on 
the  Niagara  frontier,  and  particularly  for  that  of  fort  George.  In  the 
hitter  ti;iUfC,  i^ieral  Wilkinson  siM'titvited  for  him  ie«donel  MMitt,  of  the 
3d  rei^ment  of  artiUcr)^,  with  provisional  order*  to  join  (he  «nny-at 
Sacicet't's  Harbor. 


*j&"r--' 


WapOBRce*  i"cb.«,  l«ia.    ; 

*  Orderedf  That  captain  Leonard  (1st  regiment^ 
of  aii;iUery)  be  arrest^,  and  that  his  placcf  be  sup-^ 
pli^  by  captain  Armisteady  of , the  same  regiments 


Adjutant  ffWieriS  Cuthing 


JOHN  ARMSTRONG. H 


Extnt^  of  letlisr  tvom  t^taiit  general  ^omas  H.  Cusl^^ 
ing  to  cAptain  G«orgclBL«  Armiatead,  dated  at  this  office.^' 
F5>.fli,  1813.  * 

SIR, 

<*'^m  WUl please  to  proceed  to  Niagara^  in  the 
itat«4)f  New  York,  ana  relieve  cantain  Nathaciet 


7,-' 


."i 


■aSI 


'  i 


'■) 


r  I 


X- 


W' 


1- 


m> 


l|ieonftrdiQ  the  tommafujl  of  th^e  cliibpany  qf  or 
tiilerists  naw  at  that  post;  which  company:  is  tp. 
be^urned  and  mustered  in  your  name  from. ii^ 
afteir  the  day  on  whi&h  you  receive  the  cdmmahd 
|of  it;  and  captain  Leonard  will  be  instinlcbed  to 
deliver  the  saici  company  to  you,  with  bdoks^  pa- 
pers, clothing,  and  every  thing  appertaining  i^iU 
**  Yoii  will  call  on  major  general  Dearborn  at 
Albanj^  and  receive  his  orders.^ 


•^' 


Adjutant  and  inspector  gene;*ars  office* 

Washington,  Jan.  J^  IB14. 


The  above  is  a  true  c()py  from  the  origihai^ji^ 
recorded  in  this  office.     ' 

J.  B.  WALBACH, 

,     ,  Adjutant  general* . 


r   :V'' 


n 


:W-- 


Bxtract  of  a  letter  from  adjutant'general  Thomas  H.  Cush- 
■  ing  to- major  general  Henry  Dearborn)  dated  at  thisof&ce 
8th  February)  1813. 


**  The  conduct  of  captain  Leonard  at  Niagara 

has  been  represented  in  a  very  unfavorable  light 

^  to  the  secretary  of  war,  who  has  instructed  me  to 

1,  send  Captain  George  Armistead  to  relieve  him  in 

[  thp  comniand  of  the  company  at  that  post,  and  I 

;  have  instruc^d  c£tptilctn  Armistead  to  proceed  on 

bis  journey  immediately,  and  to  wait  on  you^for 

r  any  instructions  3rou  may  think  proper  t^  give, 

■'y  Captain  Leonard  must  not  exercise  command^in* 

til  his  cofiduct  has  been  inquired  into." 

Adjutant  and  ipspector*generars  office)     ^ 
'  Washington,  22d  January,  1#1# 

^  The  above  is  a  true  copy  from  the  original  isie- 
'»pded  in  this  office. 

J.  B.  WALBACH, 

Adjutant  getteral. 


^ 


i^ 
iiifbnd 
ed  to 

to  iH 
>rn  ak 


nal,  as 


fl.  Gush, 
his  office 


k 


Niagara 
]e  Ugbt 
i  me  to 
him  in 
;,  and  I 
:ed  on 
oU'for 
to  give, 
landun- 


Lfficev 

ialasre- 


tcnerti 


ntu 


'Wimimtmm''mnmm 


^un 


v*i. 


1^*0 


'  ifix(rait  Qf^a  letter  to  the  Setretniy  of  War  ftom  mi^or  Geoi 
ArmUtcad*    Fort  M^Hetiry,  .January  19)  1614.      r 

■ '^  «  Captaoii  Leonard  was  hot  wrre^tO.  ^i*- jhroilj^^ 
?;to  trial  during  my  stay  on  the  frontier;  nor  wi^ane 
i|^r  io^tructisd,  >:o  my  Ichowl^edge,  togiy^  ini^  *bc 
^^mmand  of  his  company.'' 


.y    .  War  Department,  October  4»13t3. 

'  Understanding  that  the  d^enee  of  the  post  com  • 
initted  to  your  charge^  may  render  itproj^r  to  |[jb>- 
stroyfhetown  of  Newark,  you^re  h^rdby  dircsbt- 
td  to  appriseits  inhabitants  of  thi$  circuit^ti^nce, 
and  ^0  invite  them  to  remove  (^emselves  and  their 
effects  to  some  place  of  g^ealer  safety."  ^ 

lam,^.  ^ 

Bi'igftdter  general  M'Clure,  '^^' 

or  ofiicer  coimmanding  at  Fort  George,  UppervCttiiadi.' 


General  Harrison's  orders  to  General  M*Clure. 


Head  quarters^  N9war^l!?0T>  15, 1$U. 

DEAR  SIR, 

Being  ordered  to  return  to  the  westward  yoti 
will  beplieased  to  resume  the  command  which  you 
received  previous  to  my  arrival  at  this  placei.^ 
"The  orders  ^hich  you  heretofore  have  received 
uMl  govetnyou.  It  will  be  necessary  that  you 
keep  a  vigilant  eye  over  the  disaffected  part  of  the 
inhabitants,  and  I  recomAiend  that  ydu  make  use 
of  the)  zeal,  activity,  and  local  knowi^^lge' Which 
colofnet  Wilicocks  certainly  possesses  to  counter- 
act the  machination^^  of  our  enemy  and  enture 


'■'•■^rt,','- 


vSj 


it 


-*2 


•-•  <\ 


I- 


l-'i' 


J:^ 


l.i 


w*  *r 


i.»> 


i^e  confidence  of  our  friends  amongst  the  inhabit- 
tants.    It  will)  however,  I  am  persuaded,  be  your 
^*isb»  as  it  is  your  duty,  to  guard  the  latter  as 
Jpuch  as  |>ossibie  from  opjpression.  < 

■  The  vdunteers  which  were  lately  calWoiQi 
will  be  retained  as  long  as  you  consider  their,  fck^ 
vices  necessary;  the  drafted  militia,  until  fuHher 
orders  are  received  from  the  secretary  of  war. 
^  Tfhere  can  be  little  doubt  of  its  being  the  inten* 
Iron  of  the  enemy  to  send  the  greater  part  of  the 
troops  which  they  have  at  Burlington  and  Ybrk 
to  Kingston,  and  to  makp  York  the  right  of  their 
line.  Tfiey  may,  however,  have  a  small,  com-, 
inahd  at:  Burlington,  and  those  may  ^  so  securely 
postcj^  as  to  render  them  safe  from  ap^  desultory 
expedition  you  may  set  on  foot;  but  it  is  desira* 
ble  to  have  any  supplies  which  they  m^y  have 
collected  in  the  neighborhood  destroyed;  apd 
should  thci  success  below  be  not  such  as  to  pro- 
mise possession  of  the  whole  of  the  upper  prpyincf, 
maybe  destroyed. 

Captains  (^eonard  and  Reed,  or  either  of  thei^, 
are  appointqct  to  muster  your  troops  when  j^nd 
where  you  think  proper. 

)o  closing  thi?  communication,  I  should, nojjdo 
justiee  to  my  feelings,  if  I  were  not  to  acknow]edj||«b 
the  zeal  and  talents  with  which  you  W^m^n^V 
ged  your  command.  Your  conduct  appears  to 
metojiave  been  extremely  judicious  and  projpijer 
throughout,  and  your  troops  exhibit  a^tate  of  im* 
provement  and  subordination  which  is  at poiqe  hgr 
norable  to  your  officers  and  themselves 

I  amyVerysincereljr,  --^i^ 

; .       '  Your  friend  and  obedient  serVa 

]lrifadi«r  feneral  Ge<orge  !Bf«CliHti 


'»it-,W 


mf\ 


^isNw.w:' 


^^i 


r- 


N»W»»«i"*"^ 


•WWWP'IWilfP 


M 

trs  to 
jeha- 


M 


f'afitj 


F«rt  deorgef  N<6v.  17»  1813*  i' 
nurrisori  enjtb^ked  #ith  hit 


DEARSIR, 

■A' 


trpolii  yip^tfirdf^y  on  board  the  ^fle<lt  dedtined 
8i|6ke4rfi  Hai%or,  leiving  the  comitiaitd  once  more 
in  |(iy^ hands.  Owing  to  continued  oppc^pg  winds, 
the  4ec^  has  not  yet  gotten  6Qt  of  sight 
>    r^A  CQirrespondence  whith  took  place  between 
if^e  jgeheral  and  myself,  copies  of  which  are  here-/ 
wi|h  sent,  will,  at  once  explain  to  you  my  views 
and  Ibelings  relative  to  the  ojperati^ns  proposed  i^r 
h|ve'beea  effected  on  this  frontier.    1  am  confi;«^ 
dent  th^t  the  expressions  of  regret  made  by  gene*^ 
ral  flarrison  are  equally  sincere  with  mine,  thoiigli: 
we bdth  acquiesce  in  the  necessity  which  ^dictated.;; 
^ui  a|^aadonmei)t  of  the  projected  expedition] 
again'st  purlington.  '  ' 

About  4O0  Volunteers  have  repaired  to  this  post 
under  my' late  call,  made  in  conformity  witbge* 
nefal  Hilrrison's  wishes  and  request.    A  few  are, 
•still  c6ming  in.    I  shall  take  care  that  they  shi^H 
not  be  Unemployed.     I  am  this  moment  sending  . 
out  a  detadhment  of  200  mounted  volunteers,  with  ' 
directions  to  penetrate  the  eherty's  lints  as  far  as  V 
pi^cticable  vtrith  safety.    In  the  mean  tiine,  I  am 
niiaking  preparations  for  moving  in  force  against"; 
thenri^^tihless  the  intelligence  expected  from  thi^ 
e^ursion  should  be  such  as  to  make  it  improper. 

^counts  of  the  enemy's  force  still  vary  much. ; 
A  deserter  came  in  to  day  who  represents  their 
foTfie  Ui  be  1,500  regular^  and  800  Tddians  at^ 
Burlington  and  Stbney  creek.  The  former  I  think 
is  magnified. 

it  is  impossible  to  form  a  correct  opinion  of 
thdr  intended  movements.  At  one  time  they  ap- 
pear to  be  sending  down  their  stores  and  detach- 
ments of  troopa  to  York.  ,  At  this  time  it  19  said  '< 


1 

1^  '■'■'■ 

-V 


'\:% 


'^, 


*tfs 


'  f-> 


..J..  J.-^Jii09   i  ■•   -^. 


'  ihey  art  reiiiforcirig,  fdrtif^irigrand  buildlhg  bar' 

The  term  of  service  of  my  ti^oops  v^ll  C3spjre  *on 

;"  the  9th  December.  It  can  hardly  be  expected  that 

jjmnny  Will  willingly  continiie  in  se^ice  a'^bngcr 

I  t\fipie:    Vouf  excellency  will  at  once  see  the  ne- 

'.   tessity  of  prompt  arrangements  being  made  to 

V  supply  thefr  place,  if  it  be  contemplated  to  retain 

ihitj  garrison^  ^   ;& 

I  enclose  herein  my  late  address,  made  intd^r 

,;  the  sanction  of  general  Harrison.  '  'i^.. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be  your  excelle^icy's 
Obedient  humble  servanti 

:  GEO.  MCI^UBi;, 

'%  brigadjier  general- 

•  lli&^excj^lency  John  A^pstro^ig,    , 


,  Fort  George,  .^9i|iBxnbct:lj5j|,  II 

The  sOli^ct  of  our  conversation  this  morning 
has  occupied  my  most  serious  reflections^  ^he 
deadly  blow  heretofore  ^iven  to  the  patriotism  of 
our  citizens  on  this  frontier,  has  prepared  them  for 
murmurs  and  complaints;  those  who  are  not  pn 
their  march,  have  left  theii'  homes  and  theilf  busi* 
ness  under  great  sacrifices,  with  the  moral  certain  • 
ty  of  being  brought  into  action. 

The  last  address  which  I  issued  under  yxnw  di- 
i«Gtidns,  and  which  I  am  happy  to  find  has  met 
ynur  approbation,,  gives  them  reason  for  indulging 
the  expectation  of  service,  and  they  are  anxious 
to  drive  the  enemy  from  their  boi'ders  forever.— 
The  high  character  of  general  Harrison,  combined 
with  these  circumstances  has  excited  strong  ihte* 
rest  in  the  public  micid  reMve  t^  our^kperatioiifi* 


i*ccciv( 
reason 
intend 
pointn 
men*  \ 
of  serv 
thiftin 
stance 
the  in) 


-to,. 


Mv^pppffmi 


y  ■ 


rtjon 
I  that 
bngcr 
ic  iic- 
de  to 
retain 

■^r■•r■■ 

■■■     \ 
1813. 

f 

iorning 

ItiBm  of 
icm  for 
not  dn 
rif  buM- 
Icectaiti- 

JUT  di" 
las  met 
[dolging 

mxious 

hever. — 
[mbincd 
ig  inte- 
kttoiw^ 


In  thispecuUfir  situation  of  ^^axta,  1  feelit  to  bn, 
,  due  to  the  galtant  Volunteers  and  militia,  who  ai'e 
assembly  and^  collectings  and  to  my  own  reputa^ 
tion,  niost  r<»9p66ti^lLy  to  solicit,  that  if  it  is  not  imi 
<ibmpatiblie  with  your  instructions  and  your  beti 
ter  Juflgaient,  you  will  not  abandon  our  projected 
expedition  against  Burlin||[ton  heights;  such  is  tho 
anxious  wish  of  the  militia^  and  I  have  np  doubt 
the  soldiers  under  your  command  are  equally,  if 
not  n)toredesiroi|»  of  the  employ ment« 

My  anxiety  on  the  subject,  1  trust,  >YiU  excuse 
the  apjpeiarance  of  any  disrespect  in  making  this 
conimunicatibn,  which  is  certainly  far  from  my 
feelings.  My  confidence  in  the  valor,  ability,  and 
prudence  of  general  Harrison,  will  dispose  me 
mpst'Cheerfully  to  submit  to  any  arrangements  he 
may  be  bound  to  malre,  however  great  may  be 
my  disappointment  in  their  result. 

^  1  have  the  honor  to  be, 

4,i  With  the  utmost  respect* 

>$^  ^.    ;*       Your  obfedient  servantj 

¥■"'-      : '  *''  "^      ,         ■ ,  X3tKO,  M^CLURE. 

Jlijor  general  Harrison. 


'if 

i      ' 


yl* 


Head  quarter*,  Newitrk,  Hov.  15,  .1813.; 

DEifeSIR,  , 

Your  letter  to  me  of  this  morning  has  been 
I'eceived.  I  fed  most  severely  the  weight  of  the 
reasons  which  you  urge  for  the  prosecution  of  the 
intended  expedition  to  Burlington.  I'he  disap- 
pointment, however,  to  the  brave  and  patriotic 
men,  who  have  turned  out  under  the  expiectation 
of  serving  their  country  effectually  in  the  field  at 
this  inclement  season-,  is  the  most  painful  circum* 
stance  attending  it,  ns  lam  tcdi  convinced  ^row^ 
the  information  received  this  mommg  and  It^ 
evening  th<U  the  enemtf.  are  removing  as  fast 


-*<: 


:«!,- 


i*^fy/ii 


♦100 


,  \ 


u 


t^ . . 


J 


Me  fnm  lh  hkUi^thilake^idK)h^kl^^^ 
has  been  left  with  a  Very  small  pait  oftliiefoit^  that 
v^as^  lately  theFr«»  arid  it  is  more  tt|a^|A-dblii>le^tbat 
should  we  adi^ttnce  in  force,  the  enemy  Slaving 
how  hone  but  effective  men  at  BOrfingtohf^^iild 
destroy  the  stores  which  they  have -rtniii^irtihg 
there»  and  retreat  too  tepidly  to  be  oV'ertaken. 
There  are  cohsideratidns;  however^  which  would 
make  it  extremely  desii^ble  to  make  i|n'ex|(^ifion 
of  force  in  that  quarter;  but  the  Order»  I  have  re- 
ceived from  the  secretary  of  wai*  leaVe  ihe  ho  al- 
ternative. 

Cbmmodore  Chauncetf  is  eairemely  preaaing 
that  tlt0  trbops  should  mmeStUtly  embittn^  ct^bdia> 
ring  that  the  navigation  at  this  season -to  small 
vessels  id  Very  dangerous.  1'he  fdrce  at^S^kfttt's 
Haitor  is  — n —  The  troopfs  at  York  Jhr«  all 
hastening  down  to  Kingst(^n.  " 

SacketCs  Harbor  may  be  endangered  by  efveh  a 
delau  of  a  faiD  doj^s;  and  should  the  trOof^'t|iat 
afe  here  not  get  down  before  the  lake  is  frozen, 
ourfiett  may  be  destroyed  Jor  the  want  of  their' aid. 
I  caiipot,  therefore,  take  tipon  myself  the  reaponr 
^nbUihf  qf  delaying  their  going  down  even  a  day. 
Vnil  you  be  so  ((ood,  at  a  proper  time,  as  to^ex* 
plain  the  above  circumstances  to  the  patriots  Who 
left  their  homes  with  the  intention  of  assisting^me 
to  drive  the  enemy  far  from  our  borders^  and  as- 
sure them  that  I  shsdl  ever  recollect  with  the 
warmest  gra(  tilde,  the  partiality  they  have  been 
pleased  to  express  for  me,  and  their  preference  of 
serving  under  my  command, 

I  will  direct  payibent  to  be  made  to  the  volun- 
teers for  radons  and  forage  in  coming  out.  ,  j^  v 
4  Accept  my  best  wishes  for  your  health  a^djlap- 
f^ness^  and  believe  me  ancjerely, 

eseral  Jtf^Clure. 


■■'Jgjg^; 


■/  ■'- 


<h 


.*". 


HP^PM 


^^*!wpr 


u 


Krhicb 
letbat 

aeitdhg 
taken, 
would 
edition 
ive  Tc 
tioi  al- 


reasing 
dbdla-     ^ 
oAfnall 


^"^ 


'■^it 


./,  i^' 


s 
are  all 

f  even  a 
[frozen, 

reaponr 
ta  day. 
to^ex- 
»t8  ^ho 
[ting^mc 
and  as- 
iththe 
ire  been 
[reiMseof 

"  ■  "    ^ 

yolun- 
)d)iap- 

LliON 


{^ 


1,, 


V  B^tnct  9f  a J«tt«)r  flr^Mn  brtg«dier  ^net»l  M^C^tic  to  t|ie 
'4-  ^      iQc^eWf  of  i)p»b  dated  Foft  G«orge,Nov.  91*  IStVv 

py.}j^  <^  AfypoiiKtted  men  have  returned  from  the  h^d 
4  df  tl^eidakf ,  having  progressed  wilhin  eight  of  the 
^  enemy'ftpetet^ at  Stony  creek.>  ColoncilWikocks^ 
wl^Oc^Oifnanded,  imports,  thkt  from  the  be^t  infoi* 
mation  he  could  collect,  the  eneihy^s  force  consists 
of  from  \i  to  15  hundi'ed  regulars,  and  nine  Hun* 
dred  Indian  warriors,  'they  have  discharged  their  . 
teams,  iind  apparently  intend  wintering  there  and 
at  Burlington. 

^  it  would  be  very  desirabteto  dislodge  them  froiti 
tliek  position,  but  I  fear  my  force  is  insUflieient  for  . 
tbat  object;  At  this  inclement  season  it  might  be  ^ 
attendee)  wi^h«erious  consequences  to  attempt  any 
thing  more  than  desultory  excursions^  l^h^  vo^ 
lunteers  who  have  lately  come  in,  must,  however, 
be  actively  employed,  or  they  will  return  to  their 
hqmes.  t^he  drafted  militia  oa  this  side  the  Nia- 
gara are,  perhaps,  equal  to  any  troops  in  the  Unit- 
ed States,  I  regret  that  their  term  of  service  will 
expire  so  sooq^  rermit  me  to  surest  the  propriety 
Of  oaring  a  small  bounty  to  such  of  theni  as  wi>l 
sVpldnteerto  serve  a  longer  time  after  their  present 
term  of  service  expires;  say  for  one  or  tw9  months, 
or  until  other  troops  can  be  sent  on  tp  supply  their 

<*  Should  i  move  with  my  troops  towards  th^  llead 
pf  the  lake,  the  greatest  advantage  I  can  promise 
myself,  Will  be,  to  destroy  some  contiguous  mills, 
and  to  bring  off  a  quantity  of  flojur)  which  is  be- 
coming scarce  with  us."  I 


ik' 


r  '  Albany,  25th  November,  1813. 

SIR, 

1^  Your  letter  of  the  17th  instant  bas  been  receiv- 

tAf  and  1  hasten  to  inform  you  that  a  requisition 


"i. 


^^f 


■VJ 


'    111 


4*"^ 


-■TV 


~^'. 


■'H: 


y- 


^•4-  ■ 


forond  thdti8«nd  mititia,  toU|cethe||l|«i#^|^^ 
npiv  with  you/ has  been  made  and  willb^q|i>^'    ^ 
with  as  promptl^r  as  possible  by  the  Kpvef|i|or 

You  say  noijhing  of  the  yofunteer  conM  w! 
general  Porter  engaged  to  raise,  and  wnjeb  waf 
long  since  authorised  by  me.    If  in  this  j^ffQpt,  M 
has  failed,  whft  are  you  to  expeet  from  mili^a 
drafts,  with  their  constitutional  scrupled  On  tlie 
other  hand,  should  he  hare  succeedca,  and  8hpold«<ii 
ieneral  Harrison's  opinion  of  the  intentions  and^ 
movements  of  the  enemy  be  well  founded,  yoUr  4 
force  will  be  competent  to  somewhat  more  than  '{ 
defence  I 

^The  general  was  not  under  orders  to  quit  |he 
Niagara  frontierat  any  particular  time.  Hism^yi^^^'. 
ment,  in  this  respect,  was  matter  of  arr^ngemetli, 
with  comnnoddreCluiuncey,  and  this  was  necetisa-  : 
rily  subject  to  considerations  arising,  frop  .^eatbee 
and  season.  ".'-, 

>'fn  the  application  of  your  present  foroi'.^d  if>;^ 
the  mean!  you  take  to  enlai*ge  and  continWc^  iC' 
throughout  tlie  winter,  you  wUl  be  guided  by  the  ^ 
ordei^  received  from  the  commanding  general,  ai 
the  time  he  left  you,  and  by  such  others  as  he  mpy 
give  to  ypu  hereafter. 

V  1  am,  Sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  scrvfipt, 

JOHN  ARMStRONG 

Bi»igadier  general  M«Clure.  ;     ,    V' 

-.dJ--.  ■     .■■■       -t;    , 


^■' •••>•, 


iM> 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  Mr.  Parker,  C.  C.  of  the  Wftr  de^ 
partment,  to  geAeral  M«CIUre,  dated  War  office,  Ko^i 

^<  In  the  absence  of  the  secretary  of  wa^,  *  hwt 
had  the  homor  to  lay  before  the  president  your 
letters  of  ihe  19th  and  21st  instant,  withi  their  e^ 


*»'. 


•*  -. 


-I 


the 
ai 


^^K 

-i^- 


■^•«» 


'541 


closaiTi.  i!ht  ^neAiures  which  yoii  have  adopted 
to  increase, your  coipmand  on  the  Niagara  frontier 
are  approved  by  the  president 
■  ■  "Snoiild  the  men,  whose  term  of  service  expires 
iii;Dec^ber,  withdraw  from  i}^c  frontier,  there 
i^  bt  no  impropriety  in  continuing  the  officers 
who  compose  the  court  martial,  until  they  dis- 
charge that  duty. 

^  ''Although  there  is  no  law  authorising  the  presi« 
d^nt  to  give  a  bounty  to  such  militia  as  will  re- 
main in  pervice  after  their  time  expires,  still,  aa  it 
would  render  your  force  more  efficient  than  a  new 
drafl,  (even  if  the  men  could  be  obtained,)  I  have 
-n^^hesitation  in  recommending  that  you  adppt  such 
further  measures  as  will  ensure  the  protection  of 
fort  George  and  the  Niagara  frontier,  until  other 
lai^anii  of  defence  can  be  provided. 
\^**  For  this  purpose  the  paymasters,  serving  with 
yotir  troops,  may  be  required  to  make  such  pay- 
ments or  advances  as  you  shall  think  proper  to  or- 


..v; 


^x^tnct  of  a  letter  from  brigndier  general  M'Clure  (N.  Y. 
^  ^  militia)  to  the  secretary  of  war,  dated  Niagara,  Dec.  |0, 
!         1813.  C 


H  «  This  day  found  fort  George  left  to  be  defended 
by  onjy  sixty  effective  regular  troops,  under  cap- 
lains  Rockers  and  Hampton  of  the  24th  regiment 
of  United  States'  infantry,  and  probably  forty 
volunteers.  Within  the  last  three  days  the  term 
of  service  of  the  militia  h^  been  expiring,  and 
they  have  re  crossed  the  river  almo^  tc^  a  mam 
Foreseeing  the  defenceless  situation  in  which  the 
fart  was  left,  I  had  authorised  some  of  my  most 
active  subaUet^s  to  raise  volunteer  companies  for 
two  months,  and  ofl^red  a  bounty  in  addition  to 
the  month's  pay.    It  is  with  regret  I  have  t©  gay 


\  -J" 


r.-;    '*K. 


f'*^ 


164 


[A] 


V.  "I 


that  this  expedient  failed  of  produeiriS;  the 
effect  A  very  inconsiderable  number  indeed  were 
willing  to  engage  for  a  further  term  of  kryiee,  on 
any  conditions. 

*'  From  the  most  indubitable  information.  I  l^rn 
that  ^be  enemy  are  advancing  in  force,  lliis  q$y 
a  scouting  party  of  colonel  Wikocks*  volunteers 
cape  in  contact  with  their  advance  at  tVelve  Mile 
#reekf  lost  four  prisoners  and  one  killed;  one  of 
the  former  they  ^ave  up  to  the  savages.  This 
movement  determined  me  in  calling  a  c6uncii  bf 
the  principal  regular  and  militia  officers  left  at  fort 
Geoi|;e  this  morning.  They  all  acco**:  sd  in  opi- 
nion that  the  fort  was  not  tenable  with  the  hem- 
imnt  of  force  left  in  it.  I,  in  consequen6<i^,  gafire 
orders  for  evacuating  the  fort  since  dusk,  and  with 
but  three  boats  have  brought  over  all  the  lighj^Hi^- 
tillery,  and  most  of  the  arms,  equipage,  ainmui)i- 
tion,  &c.  and  shall  doubtless  have  time  to  dispose 
of  the  heavy  cannon  before  the  enemy  makes  his 
appearance.  The  village  of  Newark  is  no'^'in 
flames-^the  few  remaining^inhabitants  in  it,  Hav- 
ing been  noticed  of  our  intention,  were  enabled 
to  remove  their  property.  The  houses  were  gene- 
rally vacant  long  before.  This  step  has  not  been 
taken  wkhmd  counsel^  and  is  in  ccnforfHity  viMh 
the  view8  of  your  excellency,  disclosed  to  me  in  a 
Jormer  communicaiion. 
t,  *.*  The  enemy  are  now  completely  shut  out  frodi 
any  hopea  or  means  of  wintering  in  the  vicintty  of 
lort  George.  It  is  truly  mortifying  to  me  that  4 
part  of  the  militia  at  least  could  not  have  beeii 
prevailed  on  to  continue  in  service  for  a  lon^;^ 
term;  but  the  circumstance  of  their  having  to  live 
in  tents  at  this  inclement  season,  added  to  that  of 
the  paymaster's  coming  on  only  prepared  to  fur- 
nish them  with  r;te,  out  of  thm  months'  pay»  lias 


III 


;.' «-'» ^ 


f.\fl  '  ^t 


■■'■■■ 


V. 


r^g!^. 


.   •'.'/■'•' 


betti 

ma 

from 

tity  of 

ita 

beeh 

lon^r 

hv« 

latoC 

fur- 


wt 


[5*r 


/f 


loy 


had  all  the  bad  effects  than  can  be  imagined.  1*he 
best  and  most  subordinate  militia  that  havo  yet 
been  on  this  frontier,  finding  that  their  wages  were 
not  ready  for  thent,  became,  with  some  meritori- 
ous exceptions,  a  disaffected  and  ungovernable 
multitude. 

''  December  U.  I  have  this  moment  received  a 
communication  from  the  governor  of  this  6iate, 
covering  a  requisition  on  major  general  Hall  for 
1,000  men.  It  is  probable  that  not  more  than  six 
or  seven  hundred  will  rendezvous  on  this  frohtier, 
which  will,  in  my  humble  opinion,  be  not  mbre 
than  competent  to  its  proper  protection,  as  some 
will  have  to  be  stationed  at  Black  Rock,  Schlosser, 
^pd  licwistown. 

"  I  have  written  to  general  P.  B  Porter,  desiring 
him  to  employ  the  Indians  for  the  protection  of 
Buffaloe  until  the  detachment  arrives.  Our  ship- 
ping is  in  danger.  No  exertion  will  be  wanting, 
within  the  pale  of  our  limited  means,  to  afford 
the  protection  contemplated."  '; 


^f*. 


Letter  from  the  secretary  of  war  to  major  Lee,  of  the  1  dtli 
regiment  of  infantry,  deputy  paymaster  of  the  army  at 
Uiica.        ^  ; 

You  will  immediately  take  measures  to  pay  ofl' 
the  brigade  of  M* Arthur  (1,300  men),  at  fort 
George,  and  the  militia^  volunteers^  and  Indiana 
under  general  M'Clure.  Send  an  assistant  Without 
Iqss  of  time  on  this  business.  '  -t 


I  aifi,  &c. 


';r''V 


i 


i^.': 


Sheldcn.'s)  Nov.  4,  1813. 


JOHN  ARMSTRONG.^ 


14 


♦  ',"<*  "^r-fm 


:n 


f  ■ ' 


! 


■■*'.*.:■ 


*»00   .? 


[5*3 


-*>  . 


]^Vract  pf  a  letter  from  brigadier  general  Geo,rge  M'Clurs 
"^r'     to  4 be  sfecreiary  of  War,  dated  Head  quarters)  Niagara^ 
r  DccnoberlS,  1813.  \ 

.  ■         -  •      ■•  ■■■'„.  I;-  >,.  ■ 

*'  Since  I  last  had  the  honor  of  writing  you,  the  , 
enemy  has  Appeared  in  considerable  force  on  the  . 
opposite  shore;  but  having  deprived  them  of  a  shel- 
ter*  they  are  marching  up  to  Queenstawn,  and  ap- 
pear to  be  fortifying  on  the  heiffhts.    Several  hun- 
dred Indians  have  appeared.     I  have  prevailed  on 
lieutenant  colonel  Greaves  and  about  100  of  his  re- 
giment of  artillerists  id  remain  ih  the  service  otte 
month  longer,  until  the  detachment  of  militia  which 
I  have  orden^d*  arrives  here.    I  have  directed  tlie 
colonel,  with  two  pieces  df  artillery,  to  Lewistown, 
to  open  a  hot  shot  on  Qiieenston,  and  deprive  them 
of  quarters  there  also.    You  will  observe  from  my 
despatch  of  yesterday,  that  every  building  in  NeW' 
ark  is  reduced  to  ashes.    The  enemy  is  much  ex-  , 
asperated,  and  will  make  a  descent  on  this  frbn* 
ti^r,  if  possible;  but  1  shall  watch  them  clo^e  witH 
my  handful  of  men,  until  a  reinforcement  of  nfiiliv 
tiiand  volunteers  arrive,  when  I  shall  endeavor  to- 
repossess  myself  of  fort  George,  and  drive  theitt 
back  to  Burlington.     I  am  not  a  little  apprehen- 
sive that  the  enemy  will  take  advantage  of  th^eX-;' 
posed  situation  of  Buffaloe  and  our  shipping  there.' 
Nly  whole  effective  force  on  this  extensive  frontier, 
including  the  garrison  at  fort  Niagara,  does  not 
exceed  two  hundred  and  fifty  men     I  ha^ve  sCnt^ 
an  express  to  Mr.  Granger,  the  Indian  agent,  td' 
call  Qut  the  Indians;  an  exhibition  of  two  or  threcy;. 
hundred  of  them  will  strike,  more  terror  in  thif 
British  than  one  thousand  militia:     Permit  me  to 
observe  to  you,  sir,  that  it  is  all  important  that  pay* 
ment  should  be  made  punctually  to  the  Indians 
every  month,  or  at  the  expiration  of  the  term  they 
may  y^iuni^er  for.    They  are  «  people  that  can* 


yi„; 


^(.'jf » II  iiij|ii  I,  Hi  mijuijin-uniiir; 


,ii]Hi|ii',jiyiai|>iii  ^jiiM 


ilurs 
jara, 

this 
Lthc 
sheU 
lap- 
hun- 
d  on 
isre- 
;  orte 
/hich 
dtN 
;owh> 
them 
mmy 
New- 
:h  ex- 
fron* 
ff  Avitli 
milP 
rot  to  > 
them 
ehen? 

ee?:> 

Ithere^ 

ntiferf 

s  not 

nt,  to' 
three 
n  the 
me  to 
•pay- 
diane 
they 
can- 


^ 


■fi-r:. 


,W^ 


i?' 


Hot  be  made  to  understand  the  di  Acuity  of  haWn'*  * 
funds  here  at  all  times  for  that  purpose.  1  would 
heg  leave  to  mention  that  Mr.  Granger  has  inte 
rested  himself  warmly  in  support  of  the  go^errt- 
merit,  by  his  endeavors  to  have  the  Indians  join 
US;  on  every  occasion,  and  accompanied  riie  him- 
selfon  my  late  expedition  to  the  twenty — — ^ 

*<Thisday  I  start  to  BufTatoe,  which  place  1  shall 
make  my  head  quarters.  I  wilt  reinforce  this  gar* 
rison  as  soon  &s  possible.  In  the  mean  time  no-' 
thing  shall  be  wanted  on  my  part  to  promote  the 
views  of  the  government,  and  protect  the  defence- ' 
less  inhabitiants  of  this  frontier." 


'i^^.': 


ufA 


■>vi; 


£Sa;£^:*';/- 


^^iri-f¥ 


SIR, 


I  \^   Head  quarters,  Qufialpe,  D^c.  22^^  1813.  ^j- 


J  tegret  to  be  under  the  necessity  of  announcing 
to  you  the  mortifying  intelligence  of  the  loss  ot* 
fort  Niagara.  On  the  morning  of  the  19th  inst. 
about  4  o'clock,  the  enemy  crossed  the  river  at  the 
**  Five  Mile  meadows"  in  great  force,  consisting  of 
regulars  and  Indians,  who  made  their  way  undis- 
covered to  the  garrison,  which,  from  the  most  cor- 
rect information  lean  collect,  was  completely >Mr- 
prised.  Our  men  were  nearly  alt  asleep  in  their' 
tents;  the  enemy  rushed  in  and  commenced  a  ihost 
horrid  slaughter.  Such  as  escaped  the  fury  of  the 
first  onset,  retired  to  the  old  niiess  house,  where  they 
kept  up  a  destructive  fire  on  the  enemy,  until  a 
want  of  ammunition  compelled  them  to  surrendet*. 

Although  our  force  was  very  inferior  and  com- 
paratively small,  indeed,  I  am  induced  to  think 
that  the  disaster  is  not  attributable  to  an^  «&ari^  of 
troops,  but  to  gross  negle(^  in  the  commmtding  qffi- 
eer  oj  ihejort,  (captain  Leonard)  in  not  preparing, 


k 


4-1 


^...-  -U^IIS-L.^'. 


in 


.?■  ^'i^..' 


^     \i    't 


. ri-^  */:'<••: 


..i^. 


I  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain  eopreotly  ^^ 
num|^(  r  of  killed  and  .wounded.  About  tw.e^ty 
regular's  |)ave  etoapedpi^t  of  the  fort;  sQme  b{»dly 
wounded.  Oeutenant  Peck,  ^h  regiment,  is  l|lu* 
ed,  an^  it  is  said  three  others,  a  s  .  ,  x,  >  '^^  i 
^ ,  jVdU  will  perceive,  siiv  bjr  the  enc^efecl  genc^l 
orders,  that  t  apprehended  an  attack^  ap^'d  iii&dethe 
necessary  arrangenients  to  meet  it,  but  have  treason 
to  believe,  from  information  received  by  those  who 
l^aye  made  their  escape,  that  the  ^ommandtint  (|id, 
nt^t  in  any  respect  comply  with  those  orders.  ^  i^ 
«;V-  On  the  same  morning,  a  detachment  of  militia 
under  major  Bennet,  stationed  at  Lewistown 
heights,  was  attacked  bykparty  of  savages;  but  the 
major  and  Wis  little  eorps,  by  making  a  desjperate 
charge,  enected  their  retreat  after  being  surrounded 
by  several  hundred,  with  the  loss  of  six  or  eight, 
'Vfrho  doubtless  were  killed,  anaong  whom,  ^irere 
two  sons  of  captain  Jones,  Indian  interpreter.  Tlie 
spillages  of  Youngstown,  Lewistown,  Manchester, 
andihe  Indian  Tufj^carora  village  were  reduced,  to 
ashes,  and  the  inoffensive  inhabitants  who  c0u|d 
not  ekiape,  were,  without  regard,  ^o  age  or  se3^,'in-< 
Jbumaoly  bptcherbd  by  savages  headed  bjK  British 
ofTicers  painted.  A  British  oljficer  wlio  is  t^en 
prisoner,  avows  that  many  small  diitdren  #ere 
■murdered  by  the  Indians.  Major  Matfoi^y^  who 
fWas  stationed  fit  Schlosser,  with  about  40  Cana* 
J'dian  volunteers,  advanced  to  Lewistown  heights, 
und  compelled  the  advanced  gu»rd  of  the  enem^ 
to  fall  back  to  the  foot  of  the  mountain.  The  ma< 
jorisa  meritorious  ofiieer.  He  fought  the  enemy 
.two  diays,  and  cointende^  every  inch  of  ground  to 
ithe  Tantawanty  preek,  In  these  actions  Tieutehant 
Low%  23d  regiment  U.  S,  araiy,  and  eight  of  the 


-c 


r% 


"'Ill  Ml  I 


RJ'^H  »PWIIJ 


[5*]; 


1^  -     1, 


%■ 


Cijin&dian  valunjtejers  were  killed.  I  had  myself, 
three  days  previous  to  the  attack  on  Niagara,  left 
i|  with  a  view  of  providing  for  the  defence  of  this 
place„Biack  Rock,  and  the  other  viilage^  on  this 
frontier.  I  came  here  without  tropps,  and  have 
caUed  oiit  the  militia  of  Gennessee,  Niagara,  and 
Chataugay  counties,  *'  en  nutsse.^^ 

This  place  vt^as  then  thought  to  be  in  most  im- 
minent danger,  as  well  as  the  shipping,  but  I  liaue 
no  doubt  is  noxo  perfectly  secure..  Volunteers  are 
coming  in  in  great  numbers.  They  are,  however, 
aspects  of  troops  that  cannot  be  expected  to  con* 
tinue  in  service  tor  a  long  time.  In  a  lew  days, 
one  thousand  detached  militia^  lately  drafted,  will 
be  on.-  . .  ,....■  .,    ,.  ,  -  ^   ,    '.  -  J 

>■,..,  -  '■    f-*-'T^.-',.    .^,.-{v;^^,,.,;  ,^,.,,,.,-jj-.^ 

liiave  the  honor  to  hcj  ^    -        v      ■^j.f^.^* 
;*^4f;,<fiy  ^  Your  obedient  humble  servant,    ^^   F-^ 

rf  hGEO.  M^CLURE,     S 
*  brigadier  general,  comd^. 

The  honorable  John  Ai'mstrong,  i^ecretary  of  war*  -;;  ' 

fieceniiber  15,  IStSl?^  ^ 


■>»:   1^,V»J'^  '•^■-,  jfiiS- 


^batract  (jf  the  morning  re/idrt  qfthe  ffarriaon  of  Fort  Niaga 
raycomtnanded  by  captain  Leonard, 


iW.sti'- 


Gaptairi  Leonard's  company, total  present  74  absent  19' 

Captain  Hampton's    do.  do.  88      do*  17't 

Lieutenant  Peck's       do.  do.  ,        1 18      do.  9  ' 

Lieutenant  Frederick's  do.         do.  44 


fotal  present    324  absent  45 
Aggregate    369 


"'   %'- 


'^0 


'    ,  .>^^^f»:  LOOMIS, 


:^*-    ■■'■■'»»i 


lieutenant  and  acting  adjuttot* 


.||*,^|rf.p^v.i*to  JOHN  WILSON,      , 

"-  brigade  major* 


(^ 


iTS;, 


'i»s_  .-.«)(.■ 


:h;- 


♦no 

.< 


[54] 


*. 


\  Extract  of  a  letter  from  general  George  H'Clure  to  the  «• 
^  V   cr^tary  of  war,  dated  Balavia,  S^th  De'cember,  !81;5, 

'^  **  It  is  a  notbrious  fact,  that  on  the  night  oii  which 
fbrt  Niagara  was  captured,  captain  Leonard  wat 
much  intoxicated  and  left  the  fort  about  1 1  o'clock, 
P.  M.  I  am  assured  that  he  has  since  given  liim> 
self  up;  that  he  and  family  are  now  on  the  Cana- 
dian side  of  the  strait  It  was  not  without  dome 
reluctance  that  I  left  him  in  immediate  command 
of  the  fort,  but  there  was  no  alternative,  as  he 
outranked  every  other  officer.  His  uniform  atr 
tachment  to  British  men  and  measures,  added  to 
the  circumstance  of  his  not  effecting  his  escape, 
when  m  his  power,  strengthens  me  in  a  suspicion 
that  thei'e  was  a  secret  understanding  with  regard^ 
to  this  disgracefui  transaction.  - 

"Permit  me  to  suggest  to  yon,  sir,  that  unless 
regular  troops  are  sent  to  this  frontier  immediately, 
the  enemy  will  penetrate  into  the  interior  of  our 
country,  and  lay  waste  all  before  them.  The  mi- 
litia will  do  to  act  with  regulars,  but  not  without 
them.  In  spite  of  all  my  exertions  to  insure  sub- 
ordination, my  late  detachment  ultimately  proved 
to  be  very  little  better  than  an  infuriated  mob.  It 
was  not,  however,  the  fault  of  the  privates,  but  of 
such  officers  as  were  seeking  popularity,  and  who 
on  that  account  were  afraid  of  enforcing  subordJLu^^ 
nation  and  introducing  strict  discipline. 

**  I  have  collected  from  the  diiferent  recruiting 
rendezvous  about  one  hundred  and  twenty  soldiers, 
and  put  them  under  the  command  of  lieutenant 
Riddle  of  the  15th  United  States'  infantry,  an  ex- 
cellent and  deserving  officer.  ^        ^  '''-Mh, 

"  I  cannot  conclude  this  communication  Without 
reporting  the  conduct  of  doctor  Cyrenius  Chapio, 
(late  lieutenant  colonel  of  volunteers);  to  him  in  a 
greai;  measure,  ought  aU  our  disasters  to  b<Q  imput- 


4. 


mi 


ickf 

im- 

tna4 

)me 

land 

3  he 

t  at-i 

;dto 

cape, 

icion 

;gard 

inlesS 
lately, 
)f  pur 
le  mi- 
thout 

le  sub- 
roved 

,b.  It 
Ibut  of 
wbo 
Ibopdi- 

|uiting 

lldiers, 

tenant 

in  ex- 

ithout 

[hapio, 

in  a 

[tnpttt- 


MinHfyifi.ji  '■■»  ii  »■  fill"  !.  r'l 


*-TK'  I    ■  ■>■  ■  ■)■  "'Ttiy  iji.  ii^n;  wffWfWW* 


[54] 


ed.   His  publications  in  tbe  BuHTaloe  Gazette,  that 
the  enemy  had  abandoned  Burlington,  I  fear  had 
the  desired  effect.     I  have  found  him  an  unprinci*  ' 
pled  disorganizer.     Since  dismissing  him  and  his  v 
marauding  corps,  he  has  been  guilty  of  the  most 
outrageous  acts  of  mutiny,  if  not  of  treasmi.  When 
i  catne  to   Buffaloe,   accompanied  only  by  my 
suite,  he  headed  a  mob  for  the  purpose  of  doing 
violence  to  my, feelings  and  person;  and,  when" 
marching  to  the  Rock  at  the  time  of  an  alarm,  five 
or  six  guns  were  discharged  at  me  by  his  men!!"    ; 


'rm-- 


EfXtracts  of  a  letter  from  general  Lewis  Cass  to  the  secretary 
!2v'     of  war.  dated  WiUiamsvJUe,  11  miles  east  of  Buffaloe,\ 

.'?;    January  12,  1814.'        '  'k-:-'^--[^i<:: 

n#f  ^ssed  this  day  the  ruins  of  Buflfaloe.  It  ex- 
hibits a  scene  of  distress  and  destruction,  such  as  I 
h^ve  never  before  witnessed. 
Ij^*  The  events  which  have  recently  transpir^in 
this*  quarter  have  been  so  astonishing  and  unex- 
pected, that  1  have  been  induced  to  make  some 
inquiry  into  their  causes  and  progress;  and  doubt- 
ing whether  you  have  received  any  correct  infor- 
mation upon  the  subject,  1  now  trouble  you  with 
the  detail. 

'<  "  The  fall  of  Niagara  has  been  owing  to  the  most 
erimin(d  negligence.  The  Jorce  in  it  was  fully 
a>mpetent  to  its  defence.  The  commanding  onicer, 
captain  Leonard,  \t  is  confidently  said,  was  at  his 
own  house  three  miles  from  the  fort,  and  all  the 
officers  appear  to  have  rested  in  as  much  security 
as  though  no  enemy  was  near  them.  Captain 
Rodgerf"  and  captain  Hampton,  both  of  the  24t)f/ 
had  companies  in  the  fort.  Both  of  them  weri^ 
absent  from  it.    Their  conduct  ought  to  be  stFict- 


.. 


.?? 


V-,.  ■« 


^>j^^. 


"f^-: 


„*.* ': .  ■ 


^sif:}:JL 


:^:.:ij. 


112 


K^ '  ^- 


^   > 


i 


[54] 


]y  investigated.  I  am  also  told  that  major  WaU 
lace  of  the  5th  was  in  the  fort.  He  escaped  and 
is  now  at  Erie. 

&*,  *^  The  circumstances  attending  the  destruction  of 
6uffaloe  you  will  have  learned  before  this  reaches 
you.  But  the  force  of  the  enemy  has  been  greatly 
magnified.  From  the  most  careful  examination  I 
am  satisfied  that  not  more  than  six  hundred  and 
fifty  men  of  regulars,  militia,  and  Indians,  landed 
at  Black  Rock.  To  oppose  these  we  had  from 
iiaso  tlumsandfive  hundred  to  three  thousand  militia. 
All,  except  very  few  of  them*  behaved  in  the  most 
cowardly  manner.  They  fled  without  discharg- 
ing a  musket.  The  enemy  continued  on  this  side 
of  the  river  till  Saturday.  All  their  ijiovements 
betrayed  symptoms  of  apprehension.  A  vast 
quantity  of  property  was  left  in  the  town  uninjur- 
ed, and  the  Ariel,  which  lies  four  miles  above 
upon  the  beach,  is  safe.  Since  the  1st  instant  they, 
have  made  no  movement.  They  continue  in  the 
possession  of  Niagara,  and  will  probably  retain  it, 
until  a  force  competent  to  its  reduction  arrives  in 

its  vicmity.  '^^;^.,?i;'--\^^^;-*r.:  '^r  -^t  ;'  -^M:::^:^^^.' 

a^jk.-.  -iMxhv       -5--—!-  !^^^r.t^>^  .   ■'■',''  '-iMi^/ 


■H" 


■*%-^^. 


>  Robert  Lee,  late  ofLcwiston,  in  the  countyofNi^ 
agara,  and  stale  of  New  York,  gentleman,  of  the  age 
of  forty  two  years,  being  sworn  on  the  holy  evange- 
lists, deposeth  and  saith.  that  some  seven  weeks 
immediately  preceding  the  19th  of  December  last^ 
he,  this  deponent,  resided  in  fort  Niagara,  for  the 
purpose  of  attending  to  private  business;  that  about 
four  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  19th,  the  said 
fort  was  attacked  or  entered  by  the  British.  The 
garrison  was  not  alarmed  wb.-n  the  enemy  entered 
the  gates  of  the  furt.  Some  tiring  took  place  after 
they  entered  the  works,  pp/ticularly  between  the 


ponenl 

Amerj 

quart 

vates 

thepc 

niandc 
hfs  far] 
attack.) 


and 

>nof 
che8 
tatty 
ion  I 
[  and 
mded 
from 
liVitia. 
5  most 
charg- 
is  side 
jHients 
V  vast 
ninjur- 
3  above 
mttliey 
leinthe 
etain  it, 
•rives  in 

ityofNi^ 
[f  the  age 
revaoge- 
1  weeks 
Lber  last, 
[,  for  the 
kat  about 
[the  said 
Ih.    The 
entered 
Ace  after 
reen  the 


fi; 


m 


ua 


ga«rd  arl)i6'  sodfir^^  b^  ffSgs^  dn^ 
In  the  hospital  at  the  red  barracks,  on  the  part  of 
the  Americans  with  the  enemy.  This  deponent 
h  fldi^itive  that  there  v*ere  about  400  men  of  all 
descrijptions  ib  the  fot't,  immediately  before  taken, 
and  that  ddO  of  that  number  wtrk  capable  and 
tVilling  to  bear  arms  in  that  way,  viz.:  firing  oh 
the  enemy  from  th€  block  1^  ustes,  &c.  The  prin- » 
cipal  resistanfie  the  enemy  met  with,  was  from  the 
sick  in  thie  fed  barracks,  and  the  guard  at  the;  soiith 
east  block  house  befofe  mentioned.  Th^  sick  tit 
the  red  barracks,  as  this  deponent  is  informed,  and 
ffom  what  h6  saw,  he  believes  were  nearljr  all 
slaughtered.  Thci  British  force  that  tbok  possc£{<: 
sion  of  the  fort  were  in  number  about  400j  com^ 
tm^nded  by  colond  Murray^  who  was  wounded  ih 
the  arm  in  eii^ring  the  gate,  and  was  succeeded  in 
command  by  colonel  Hamilton.  From  the  British 
order  6f  congratulation  that  issued  on  the  same 
morning,  it  appeared  that  the  Americans  had  lost  65 
killed  and  15  wounded.  Which  wounds  were  prin-' 
cipally  by  the  bayonet,  as  expressed  in  the  order; 
but  the  above  order  issued  very  soon  after  they 
took  possession  of  the  fort,  and  did  not  include  a 
number  that  were  afterwards  found  bayoneted  in 
thiv  cellairs  of  the  houses.  This  deponent  thinks 
that  our  loss  in  killed  in  the  whole  amounted  at 
least  to  eighty.  It  was  a  matter  of  freqjuent  con- 
versation and  exultation  among  the  British  non- 
commissioned officers  and  soldiers,  while  this  de- 
ponent Ivas  under  guard,  that  they  bayoneted  the 
Aniericans,  notwithstanding  their  cryiiig  out  fbr 
quarters.  A  subaltern  officer  and  p.bdut  20  ^ri« 
vktef  made  their  escape  from  th<^  fori;  by  scahn^ 
the  pickets.  Captain  Leonard,  the  American  com- 
mander, was,  at  the  time  the  fort  was  taken,  at 
his  farm,  about  two  miles  distant  and  bearing  the 
attack,  made  towards  the  fort,  and  at  no  |reat  dis- 


II 


d 


■'?  « 


15 


^ 


■^ij^-m^ 


,.K<i.a.! 


If      ;         »;, 


I    ■  ' 


•11*         ,v    ;       y'   1^]  ■,.-..■....,,... 

tance  from  it,  was  made  prisoner  by  the  enemy, 
!^n4  viras  kept  in  close  confinement  for  two  days 
^and  a  half,  and  how  much  longer  this  dipponent 
l^^ocs  not  know.  T\\q  American  soldiers  were  kept 
;  two  days  in  close  and  miserable  confinement,  with- 
Cout  the  use  of  provisions,  and  with  a  very  scanty 
^upply  of  wood  and  water;  at  the  expiration  of 
^which  the  citizens  and  soldiers  were  crossed  over 
^;the  river  and  lodged  in  a  part  of  what  bad  j;>een 
'.fthe  British  magazine  at  fort  George,  the  residue  in 
open  plank  and  board  huts;  in  both  situations  it 
,  was  impossible  to  lay  down.    The  magazine  was 
vf  o  filthy  that  many  of  the  prisoners  became  infest-^ 
ed  with  vermm,  and  in  that  situation  remained 
aeven  days.    The  citizens  were  then  removed  to  a 
brick  building  pp  near  Queenston^  wb^re  they  were 
^  ^  so  much  crowded  that  no  kind  of  comfort  was  to- 
be  taken  either  by  day  or  night.    The  supply  of 
-provisions  was  not  only  scanty,  but  of  the  very 
'    worst  kind;  beef  of  the  most  inferior  and  repulsive 
quali^;  and  bread,  the  quality  of  which  cannot  be 
described.  The  water  that  they  used,  both  there 
.  find  at  the  magazine,  they  had  to  purchase.    This 
.    deponent  believes  that  through  the  influence  of  an 
individual  in  Upper  Canada,  himself,  togfthef  with 
ten  other  American  citizens,  were  permitted,  on  the 
13th  instant,  to  cross  to  the  United  States.    The 
:  residue  of  the  citizens,  to  the  amount  of  about  se- 
yenty.  were  niarch^d,  on  the  12th,  under  a  strong 
^uard  to  Burlington  heights;  and  this  deponept  was 
unformed,  that  from  thience  they  would  be  sent  to 
;  Kingston  The  women  and  children  taken  at  and 
fii^ar  Lewistown,  were  stripped  of  their  clothing 
^nd  taken  across  the  river.    And  further  thi^  de- 
ppnent  salth  not»  . 
1^      (Signed)  ROBERT  LEE. 

Sworn  to  and  subscribed  this  Idth  d^y  of  Ja- 
puHry,  1814,  befor?  HHB, 

(^^^^  J,  HARRISON, 

in|ster  in  cl)»iic^ry. 


v-^'S* 


-'V, 


. »'  0 


enemy, 
ivo  days 
leponent 
eve  kept 
nt,witn- 
y  scanty 
ration  of 
wed  over 
lad  ^n 
■esiduein 
latibns  it 
aine  was 
ne  infest- 
remained 
oved  to  a. 
they  were 
n't  was  ta 
supply  of 
I  the  very 
repulsive 
cannot  be 
oth  there 
sc.    This 
;nce  of  an 
sther  with 
ed,  on  the 
es.    The 
about  se- 
ll strong 
\ti&[^  was 
>e  sent  to 
n  at  and 
clothing 
!r  thi^  de- 


l^y  of  Ja- 


lAiKC^ry. 


